Sports
Boye-Hlorkah: We respect England, but we are the Black Queens
Black Queens forward Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah says the team will approach Tuesday’s historic friendly against England with respect but without fear.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Chantelle projected confidence and calm as she emphasized Ghana’s identity and belief heading into the high-profile fixture.
“We can respect the opponent, but at the same time we need to be ourselves. We are the Black Queens, and we need to do our things,” she said.
“If we do that, I think people will see our performance and our game in a positive way.”
The former Everton and London City Lionesses attacker highlighted the excitement within the squad, describing the mood as one of belief rather than intimidation.
“We’re excited to play this game. We believe in our own qualities. You’ve mentioned a couple of countries there, but none of those countries are Ghana,” she said, referencing comparisons to other national teams that have recently faced England.
“We haven’t played England before, so it’s the first time the two nations are going to meet and we back ourselves.”
Boye-Hlorkah stressed that the Black Queens’ strength lies in their footballing identity and unity.
“We enjoy the football that we play. And we know that when we play our football, we can be a force against any team, any country we come up against.”
She also dismissed any suggestion of nervousness ahead of the contest, insisting the squad is mentally ready for the challenge.
“There’s no fear whatsoever within our camp. We believe in ourselves, and we’ll see the performance we put out tomorrow. We play our best football when we believe in ourselves, she added. “It’s an amazing occasion for us all.” she added.
The Black Queens face the Lionesses on Tuesday at 7:00 PM at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.
Officials from the Ghana mission in the United Arab Emirates have paid a morale-boosting visit to the camp of the Black Queens.
The delegation, made up of Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto, Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai and Head of Transport Anas Shaibu, visited the team to assure them of the government’s support and commitment to their safety and welfare.
During the visit, the officials interacted with the team and offered words of encouragement, urging the team to remain focused on the tournament despite concerns surrounding unrest in parts of the UAE.
Consular Officer Percy Okudzeto emphasised that the Ghanaian government, through its diplomatic mission, is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to ensuring the team’s safety throughout their stay.
“We want the team to stay calm and focus on the competition. The government and the embassy are doing everything possible to ensure your safety and well-being.” he said.
Consul and Head of Chancery Abdul-Jalil Sigli Yakubu Abdulai also reiterated the mission’s readiness to provide any assistance required by the team during the tournament.
Leadership of the team expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as timely and motivating.
With the backing of Ghana’s diplomatic officials in the UAE, the Black Queens remain determined to represent the country proudly and deliver strong performances in the Pink Ladies Cup.
The Black Queens have arrived in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the upcoming Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai. The team touched down at the Dubai International Airport via Emirates Air on Wednesday morning and were warmly received by the competition’s organising officials.
The squad will be based at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, where they will begin their final preparations for the tournament. Organised as part of the international women’s football calendar, the Pink Ladies Cup is expected to feature four national sides using the competition to assess their squads and fine-tune strategies for upcoming tournaments.
Ghana will open their campaign today with a clash against Hong Kong, while Russia and Tanzania face off in the other opening match.
The Black Queens are then scheduled to return to action on March 3, when they take on Russia in a match expected to test them against a physically strong opponent.
The final round of games will be played on March 6, with Ghana closing their campaign against Tanzania at 9:00 pm.
With three matches in eight days, the tournament promises to be a crucial phase in Ghana’s preparation, as the Black Queens aim to return to continental action sharper, stronger, and more competitive.
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