The Black Princesses of Ghana have beaten their counterparts from Nigeria to win the gold medal of the women’s football event, at the ongoing 13th African Games happening in Accra.
They beat the Falconets 2-1 after extra time in final at the Cape Coast Stadium.
The Nigerians began strongly, exchanging delightful passes and pushing for the opener.
Their effort was rewarded in the 23rd minute after Edeh Njideka capitalized on a goalkeeping error by Ghana’s Afi Amenyeku to give Nigeria the lead.
Moments after conceding, the Princesses asserted themselves and began to create goal scoring opportunities, determined to equalize before the break but that wasn’t to be.
Tracey Twum had a great opportunity to tap into an empty net just on the brink of half time after a cut-back from Mukarama Abdulai found her but she was wrong footed and sent her kick against the left post.
The Black Princesses trailed at half time.
Tracey Twum pulled parity for Ghana in the 78th minute after blasting a shot from inside the penalty box past the Nigerian goalkeeper who was helpless on that occasion.
Both teams then pushed for the winner in regulation time but it was Ghana that came close to securing the winner after Tracey Twum’s lofted ball over the on-rushing Nigerian goalkeeper fell on top of the net in the 4th minute of additional time.
The game then proceeded to extra time where Mukarama Abdulai pierced a dagger in the hearts of the Nigerians by scoring the winner in 98th minute.
The fully packed Cape Coast Stadium roared in cheers and jubilation. At least their support hasn’t been in vain.
Ghana last won gold in women’s football at the African Games back in 2015, in Brazaville, under Yusif Basigi, the same manager who has guided the team to another gold medal on home soil.
Yusif Basigi was full of praise for Mukarama after the game.
“Mukarama is a household name. I knew with time she was going to make it, so that’s why I had patience for her through out and was using her and guiding her. I can say that she’s the most experienced striker among all the teams here so I’m not surprised that she had this wonderful goal”.
The Black Princesses will now switch attention to the world cup which will come off later this year in Columbia.