Sports
President Simeon-Okraku hails Black Queens’ Bronze medal, reaffirms commitment to Women’s football development
President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku has expressed immense pride in the Black Queens’ historic Bronze medal win at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, emphasizing the importance of continued investment in women’s football.
Following Ghana’s third-place triumph, the 2nd Vice CAF President highlighted the impact of the GFA’s strategic initiatives, including the DNA Women’s Football Strategy.
He “From the moment we developed the strategy, launched the talent identification program, established the Academy in the North, invested in the Women’s Premier League, and boosted TV coverage, we knew we were on the right path,” he said. “Thank God for the Bronze. Our investment in women’s football is yielding results, and we’re confident about our collective future.”
President Simeon-Okraku praised the Black Queens for their resilience and determination, acknowledging that their achievement signals greater potential for Ghanaian women’s football.
“We need to let the team enjoy this moment. Although they didn’t win the ultimate trophy, their achievement speaks volumes about the huge potential in our women’s game,” he stated.
Looking ahead, he emphasized the need for sustained investment, expanded talent identification programs, and a structured pathway for player development from the U-15 level to the senior national team.
“With the right investment, more talent identification programs, and a natural progression of players, we’ll reach our desired destination,” he affirmed. “The talent in them is unbelievable.”
The Black Queens’ bronze medal marks Ghana’s first WAFCON podium finish in over two decades, reigniting hopes for a new era of dominance in African women’s football.
Otto Addo is taking a calm and focused approach to the World Cup after being drawn against England, Panama, and Croatia in Group L.
“I look forward to every game as special,” he told ghanafa.org.
“Very important for us that we don’t underrate any team. For sure, England is the favourite in that group,” he acknowledged. “But for me as a coach, to be honest, I’m looking at each and every game equally.”
Addo is particularly focused on getting a strong start against Panama. “I’m hoping that we have a good start against Panama, that will be very, very crucial,” he said. “It will make the other games a little bit more relaxed and easier for the players psychologically. We will use the window of March for test matches, and then see,” he said.
Despite being a young team, Addo is proud of his squad’s progress. “I think we did very well in the qualifiers ” he said. “We didn’t lose a single official game, like the qualifying games, we did very well. We just played one draw and the rest we won, so we had quite a good year in 2025, after a bad year in 2024’’.
“Even though we have a very young team, we really, really did well, had a good harmony in the team, good union,” he added.
Ghana will open their FIFA World Cup campaign against Panama in Toronto on June 17 before facing England and Croatia in the other Group L matches on June 23 and 27 respectively.
The unbeaten away run of Accra Hearts of Oak will be put to the test tomorrow when they visit the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale to play as guests of Karela United. Described as one of the top-liners of the weekend games, the match will pitch one of the best home teams against the best away team, with their records on the line.
After playing a pulsating 2-2 draw with Kumasi Asante Kotoko last week, league leaders Medeama SC return to their fortress, the TnA Stadium, to welcome Berekum Chelsea FC in a clash of former league winners. Medeama have struggled in recent times to hold their own against the ‘Bibires’, losing their last four games both home and away.
However, according to Head Coach of Medeama, Tanko Ibrahim, that sequence of results will come to an end tomorrow as they look to crawl out of the claws of their opponents with victory. Eleven points separate the sides, with Berekum Chelsea lying a distant 14th position on the log. They have been a pale shadow of themselves this season, and it remains to be seen if Coach Samuel Boadu’s side can keep the bragging rights over the Yellow and Mauves in what has been described as one of their worse starts to a league season.
Today, second-placed Kpando Heart of Lions will trek to the Kwame Kyei Sports Complex in Abrankese to play as guests of struggling Nations FC. Having suffered a 1-0 away loss to Basake Holy Stars in their last game, Nations FC would look to pick all three points to better their current 12th position.
In other games, the Hohoe Sports Stadium will come alive as new boys Hohoe United FC welcome Kumasi Asante Kotoko. The Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex in Tema will host the Vision FC versus Young Apostles FC game, the Tuba Astro Turf will host the Dreams FC versus Bechem United FC clash, while the Nsenkyire Sports Arena will host the Samartex FC versus Bibiani Gold Stars game. High-riding Aduana FC will sort things out with Basake Holy Stars at the Nana Agyeman Badu I Park in Dormaa.
By Raymond Ackumey
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