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BBC News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ghana go tackle Mali for crunch 2025 Wafcon West Africa derby
Black Queens of Ghana go face di Female Eagles of Mali on Friday for dia second Group C game for di ongoing 2025 Wafcon. Ghana bin dey bottom for di group afta dem lose dia first game against South Africa (2-0). Mali dey second on top di table as dem bin win dia first game (1-0) wit di only goal by Saratou Traore at half time of dat game. Dis game now na do-or-die for di Black Queens as a defeat mean say Ghana go comot di competition. Dis na West African derby game - di stakes dey high. Di Black Queens get 13 shots on goal for dia game against defending champions South Africa. Alice Kusi and Evelyn Badu bin also hit di crossbar for dat game as dem try to get late goal to spark comeback. Wit dat performance, Ghana go try to build on dat to try to get di results for dis game v Mali. Wetin di two coaches tok Ghana coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren tok for di pre-match conference say, "we bin dey beta dan South Africa for dat game but we no fit to score. But our goal still dey di same, na to win." "We don dey focus on ourselves now. Our players dey fit now. We believe in our abilities and our style," di coach tok. Im add say, "we get to dey clinical inside di box if we want to win dis game." Bjorkegren bin welcome im assistant captain Jennifer Cudjoe wey bin dey suspended for di opening game Her presence mean say di midfield go dey experienced wey di coach tok say, "we get to do dis for di fans back home and across di world." But dis game go hard sake of Mali dey efficient, even wen dem no get di ball. Wit di experience of dia four players for attack - Saratou Traore wey bin score di only goal for dia first game, Kadidiatou Diabate, Aissata Traore and Aguiessa Diarra, di Ghana defense get dia hands full for dis game. Di Female Eagles of Mali wey finish di 2018 edition as semi-finalists dey count on dia physical abilities for dis game against Ghana. Sabi pipo say na dem be di dark horses for dis tournament, but dia coach Houssein Salloum Mohammed no want make tins enta dia head. Im tok say, "to win our first game mean say we get di mental advantage as we dey enta dis game versus Ghana. We sabi wetin we fit do and di quality of our squad." "Na West African derby, all di teams dey physical, we expect Ghana to be physical but we don prepare well." Head-to-head Dis na di fifth time dis two teams don meet for Wafcon. Ghana don win 3 times (2-0 for 2022, 1-0 for 2006 and 3-1 for 2016). But for 2018, Mali bin win against Ghana (2-1) for di Wafcon, wia dat na result coach Mohammed wan repeat as im bin dey coach di female eagles since 2017. CAF don quote oga Mohammed say, "I bin dey in charge of dis team for eight years now. I sabi di players well-well, wey we continue to dey grow every day. We wan achieve di same tin we achieve for 2018 and reach di semi-finals and den enta di final." Mali im last five games don produce less dan 3 goals Four out of Ghana last six games don see di two teams score goals Bifor Mali win dia first group game v Tanzania, dem bin lose two straight games ahead of di competition Ghana also bin concede at least two first half goals for dia last three games. Di game between Ghana and Mali go happun at 4PM GMT (5PM WAT) for di Berkane stadium. Join us for di live text commentary of dis West African derby game for di 2025 Wafcon.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Traore strike edges Mali past Tanzania at Wafcon
Mali finished fourth at the 2018 Wafcon but failed to qualify for the 2022 edition [BackPage Pix] A goal in first-half stoppage time by Saratou Traore was enough for Mali to edge a tight Group C encounter against Tanzania as both sides began their campaigns at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. In a game of contrasting styles, the Malians' extra pace and power ultimately won out against the pass-and-move tactics of their East African opponents, whose patient approach play lacked a cutting edge. Advertisement Played in a largely empty stadium in Berkane, it was an encounter that struggled to set pulses racing. The only goal came in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half, with midfielder Traore firing low into the net from just inside the penalty area as Tanzania failed to properly clear a free-kick. The Female Eagles had the better of the chances throughout the match, with Aissata Traore, who finished the match with her head wrapped in a white bandage, wasting several presentable opportunities. The West Africans join South Africa on three points in Group C after the defending champions beat Ghana 2-0 earlier on Monday. Advertisement Tanzania, who have now lost all four of their games at Wafcon finals, will have a chance to improve their record when they face South Africa in Oujda on Friday (19:00 GMT), while Mali remain in Berkane to take on Ghana earlier the same day (16:00 GMT). Absentees hurt Tanzania Returning to Wafcon after a 15-year absence, Tanzania would have hoped to call on three of their overseas stars - Clara Luvanga, Opa Clement and Aisha Masaka - for this opening game. Instead, the lowest-ranked side in Group C saw Brighton & Hove Albion forward Masaka drop out of the pre-tournament training camp with a knee injury, Al-Nassr striker Luvanga was listed as absent, as opposed to injured, on the pre-match teamsheet and Opah, who plays in Mexico, was suspended. Advertisement Coach Bakari Shime described the situation as "a major problem" in his press conference after the game. When they were on the front foot in the game, diminutive playmaker Diana Msewa was at the heart of the Twiga Stars' best work, looking especially bright on the ball in the early stages. But as the red skies above the Berkane Stadium darkened, Mali began to get a grip on proceedings. First Saratou Traore hooked wide after bundling her way into the box, before a slaloming run from Aissata Traore got the few fans in attendance on their feet, even if she ultimately dwelled too long on the ball and found herself crowded out by defenders. Advertisement Fatoumata Diarra then saw a long-range effort parried by Tanzania goalkeeper Najiati Idrisa, with Kadidiatou Diabate unable to convert the follow-up. But Saratou Traore made no mistake with her goal, showing composure to keep a first-time effort down as it dropped invitingly into space after several bodies contested a set piece swung in from the right-hand touchline. Tanzania had to wait until added time in the second half for their best opportunity, only to see Mali defender Aicha Samake put her body on the line to block a goal-bound shot from substitute Elizabeth Chenge. That challenge ensured Mali, who finished fourth at the 2018 finals, kept their first ever Wafcon clean sheet, while also winning their opening game for the first time. Advertisement Tanzania, East Africa's only representative at the tournament, may play with admirable style, but will have to find a way to add some incision to their game if they hope to prolong their stay in Morocco.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Traore strike sees Mali edge past Tanzania at Wafcon
A goal in first-half injury time from Saratou Traore was enough to see Mali edge a tight Group C encounter against Tanzania as both sides began their campaigns at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon).In a game of contrasting styles, the Malians' extra pace and power ultimately won out against the pass-and-move tactics of their East African opponents, whose patient approach play lacked a cutting in a largely empty stadium in Berkane, it was an encounter that struggled to set pulses only goal came in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half, with midfielder Traore firing low into the net from just inside the penalty area as Tanzania failed to properly clear a Female Eagles had the better of the chances throughout the match, with Aissata Traore, who finished the match with her head wrapped in a white bandage, wasting several presentable West Africans join South Africa on three points in Group C after the defending champions beat Ghana 2-0 earlier on who have now lost all four of their games at Wafcon finals, will have a chance to improve their record when they face South Africa in Oujda on Friday (19:00 GMT), while Mali remain in Berkane to take on Ghana earlier the same day (16:00 GMT).
