Sad for Black Queens!
By every stretch, last Sunday could be described as one of the darkest days of Ghana football.
That gloomy day saw the nation’s league champions Hearts of Oak suffer an ignoble 6-1 spanking at the hands of their Moroccan opponents – WAC, in the reverse fixture of the final preliminary stage of the CAF Champions League played in Casablanca.
Having beaten the Moroccans by a slender scoreline of 1-0, we all knew the reverse fixture was going to be a Himalayan undertaking. However, many still expected Hearts to hold their nerves – work their fingers to the bone, die on the pitch or fight ‘until their bones are rotten’ as their motto suggests.
Miserably, they failed – putting up a lame, desolate fight that could only give them a consolation goal to finish the tie 6-2 on aggregate.
The result of the game may have sent most Phobians into an early tormenting sleep, wondering what hit the Rainbow boys so hard.
Earlier, Ghana’s senior national women team Black Queens, had demonstrated some stirring fight to beat their much feared Nigerian opponents – Super Falcons 1-0 in the second leg of the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifiers at the Accra Sports Stadium.
It was one game that the Queens played their hearts out, carrying the afternoon to their more accomplished opponents till the end. Indeed, they almost got an injury-time goal through a goal-mouth jostle, which saw the ball hit the bar.
Irrespective of the victory, the Queens were bundled out of the campaign, the Falcons having won the first leg 2-0 in Lagos.
Sunday’s game simultaneously serves as a World Cup qualifier, meaning our Queens will not see any competitive football until 2024.
A record number of 44 entries for the preliminaries mean that after the fixture with Ghana, Nigeria – the nine-time African champions, still have another round to prosecute before getting a ticket in the finals in Morocco, which will also determine Africa’s representatives at the 32-team FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.
Good luck to the Falcons, who will be playing against the Lady Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire. The Ivorians whitewashed their counterparts from the Niger Republic 9-0 in their own backyard in the first leg encounter, automatically booking their ticket to the Mundial. The final round of qualifiers is slated for February, next year.
The elimination of the Queens was really sad because they were a side that have never been accorded enough respect by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) – and by extension respective governments.
Whilst we have showered all the goodies on their male counterparts – the Black Stars, we have relegated the Queens to the background, having forgotten that they were the first team to take us to World Cup at the senior level (US ’94).
Indeed, it took their male counterparts 12 years solid years to replicate that momentous feat (Germany 2006).
In the US tournament, the Queens sprayed the field with some tantalizing football and endeared themselves to the global audience who remained awestruck by their performance – even though the Ghanaian ladies could not navigate their way to the next stage.
Those were halcyon days when the Queens played only second fiddle to Nigeria. Today, the Queens have sunk in stature and reverence, failing to win their maiden African Cup in numerous attempts. As nine-time winners of the continental Holy Grail, Nigeria have garnered all but two of the previous tournaments. In fact, the two tournaments not annexed by the Super Falcons were both won by Equatorial Guinea as hosts.
Truth is that we have not invested enough into women football and we know that all-too well. Yet, whenever the Queens were in action, we expect them to dazzle, out-play their opponents and fetch the desired results. It does not work like that!
By now, our ladies should be rubbing shoulders with the best in the world if we had continued from where we left off at the US Mundial. But no! It is all about the Black Stars – nothing counted more. It is distressing!
Instead of venting our frustrations on the Queens, let us bow our heads in shame and then head to the drawing board and endeavour to put things in the place. We have not been honest to ourselves. Let us wake up from the long slumber now and do the right thing or better forget about women football.
By John Vigah
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) will administer the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in Ghana from Monday, May 4, 2026, to Monday, May 11, 2026, for both school and private candidates.
For Junior High School (JHS) students, it is a crucial evaluation that covers both core and elective areas, such as English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, French, and Ghanaian Language among others.
A total of 619,985 candidates comprising 304,273 males and 315,712 females have been registered to write this final examination for JHS students.
In order to prevent examination misconduct, which damages the legitimacy of the educational system and skews the results of student assessments, candidates are expected to follow the regulations of the examination by WAEC.
Anyone found engaging in examination misconduct will face harsh penalties under WAEC Act 719.
As a result, the Spectator is advising all candidates to be cautious of the directives and make a commitment to always act morally.
We also implore supervisors and invigilators to refrain from any wrongdoing because invigilators have found themselves in trouble in the past.
It is common to feel anxious at examination but we advise candidates not to panic during this time because if they do, their brains will not be able to recall what they have learned.
Relax and you will be able to recall the majority of the material you have studied, but if for some reason you are unable to remember do not be afraid. Leaving a question unanswered is better than receiving a sanction from WAEC due to examination misconduct.
During this time, we expect parents to help their children by providing a peaceful, distraction-free study space and making sure they eat healthily and get enough sleep.
We wish every BECE candidate all the best for the examination, including good health, mental clarity, and protection.
“…at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” – Romans 5:6 (NIV)
Introduction
JESUS Christ shed His blood on the Cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for our salvation.
The Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ and convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and we are baptized in Him into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God.
The Holy Spirit also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
We continue from where we ended last week.
Seven words on the cross
4. The word of spiritual suffering
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – Mark 15:34.
These words mark the climax of Jesus’ suffering for a lost world. Jesus experienced separation from God the Father as the sinner’s substitute. Here the sorrow, grief and pain were at their worst.
He was pierced for our transgression – “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5 (NIV), and gave Himself a “ransom for many” – Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6.
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for you and me – 2 Cor. 5:21.
Jesus died, forsaken that we might never be forsaken – Psalm 22. Because of this we are redeemed by the suffering of Christ – 1 Peter 1:19.
5. The word of physical suffering
“Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” – John 19:28.
Jesus nearing death goes through the agony of thirst. Jesus the fountain of Living Water desires earthly water and is given vinegar – sour wine which He rejects. He had to endure pain and shame.
6. The word of triumph
“When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished” – John 19:30.
Mission accomplished. The work of redemption is done. Jesus did not say “I am finished.” Rather, He triumphantly made a declaration that He had completed and accomplished His work on the cross.
• He had accomplished the earthly mission assigned by the Father;
• He had fulfilled the important Old Testament prophecy about the suffering Messiah – Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53:3–12;
• Completed the work of redemption as the sacrificial and Passover Lamb of God – John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7, involving blood atonement – Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12 & 22;
• The decisive moment of victory over Satan and his network of demons – Colossians 2:15;
• Jesus has achieved the means of reconciliation of God with His creation and sinful humanity – 2 Corinthians 5:18–19 & 21; Colossians 1:20–22.
It is worthy to note that nothing can be added to the finished work of the cross for salvation. The way of salvation is now open to all who believe and draw on Jesus’ finished work on the cross – Matthew 27:50; Luke 23:46.
The debt for our sin has been paid in full and the plan of salvation established.
7. The word of committal
“Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit My spirit.” When He had said this, He breathed His last.” – John 19:30; Luke 23:46.
The Lord Jesus voluntarily committed His life into God the Father’s care – He went in spirit to His Father in Heaven.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” – John 3:16 (NIV).
Author
Kindly note: You are warmly invited to join us for our programme, Meditations on Easter, on Saturday, 11th April 2026 at Christ the King Parish Hall at 8:00 a.m.
The theme is: “He Is Risen Indeed, Hallelujah!!! – The Transformative Power of the Resurrection” (Matthew 28:5; 1 Peter 1:3–4).
Our deepest desire this Easter is to experience the power of Christ’s resurrection more intimately in our lives and to share the hope of the risen Lord with others.
Stay Blessed!
For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0302-772013 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightgh.org
By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee
