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Black Queens face Cameroun in AWC semi-finals (27.11.2016)
There is revenge brewing in the pot of this year´s Africa Women´s Championship as the semi-finals are played on Tuesday.
After the final group matches played over the weekend, four teams remain and all have an axe to grind with the other as they now jostle for the tickets to play in the final on Saturday.
Ghana´s Black Queens are up against their rivals, Cameroun in Yaounde at 3:00pm GMT with Nigeria facing South Africa at 6:00pm GMT in Limbe.
In the history of the AWC, these four teams have met at this level many more times with Ghana and Nigeria up with more wins.
And the stakes seem higher all four will be out to chase history- Nigeria seeking to win their ninth AWC title, South Africa out for their first win against the Nigerians and possibly their first silverware just as is the case for both Ghana and Carmeroun on the trophy and Cameroun ending Ghana´s dominance over them in this competition.
Since the inception of AWC and their first meeting from 1998 to date, Cameroun have only beaten Ghana´s Black Queens once in 2010, when they met at the group stage at the Equatorial Guinea event. All other meetings, either at the Group stage or semi-finals have gone the way of the Queens.
Last year, the Queens again beat the Indomitable Lionnesses 1-0 to claim the All Africa Games gold after their grouo clash had ended 1-1.
On Tuesday however, the Queens will not just be up against their old foes who they have dominated, but an entire nation who are strongly in support of their "host and win" mantra and have given them their unflinching support so far.
Indeed, the Queens were given a fortaste of what to come when Camerounians, including the legend, Roger Milla, showed up in their numbers to support Mali against them. The crowd was not as intimidating and the Queens brushed Mali aside with the 3-1 win courtesy goals from Linda Eshun (44th), Samira Suleman(67th) and Elizabeth Addo 78th).
With more clashes between the two sides in recent times, the players know themselves very well and Ghana coach Yussif Basigi admitting that tomorrow´s game will be 50 per cent tactics and 50 per cent psychology.
"They know us as much as we know them. We have played against Cameroun
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manymore times in recent times than we have played Nigeria, so there will be do much intensity when we meet again on Tuesday.
"We both stand in each other´s way of being in the final and lifting the title for the first time, but I think the pressure will be more on them as their fans will expect them to deliver," Coach Basigi told the Graphic Sports.
He admits the losses the Camerounians have suffered at the hands of Ghana will push them to be more aggressive and physical, but he will get his ladies to play it calm but purposeful.
Calm and purposeful may be key, but Basigi needs to get some drive from the Queens who are gaining the tag of being a side of two halves given their performances in their three group games which saw them beat Kenya 3-1, hold Nigeria to a 1-1 draw before dismissing Mali in the final game.
The defence takes a while to settle down, a situation the Lionesses could exploit.
Also, he may have to stick to his original starting line up without Faiza Ibrahim as her starting role against Mali was not productive, but could be an effective sub.
Cameroun have not been that overwhelming in their performance though they have done what is most important, finishing on top with nine points and without conceding a goal in their wins against Egypt (2-0), South Africa (1-0), and Zimbabwe (2-0).
That record certainly serves as a boost as they come up against Ghana, knowing the Queens remain their nemesis and could derail their plans.
In the other game, the defending champions look set to maintain their hold on South Africa unless the Bayana Bayana are able to enact that 4-0 winning ploy against Egypt in their final group match last Friday.
In Yaounde, Bayana struggled to score, drawing with neighbours, Zimbabwe before conceding that late goal against Cameroun. In the final game in Limbe, they banged in four to literally snatch the Group A second spot from the Egyptians.
They are much aware of what is ahead of them as they come up against the Super Falcons whom they have never beaten before and much as they may relish a first time win, they would be out to avoid an embarrassment or the deflation of their ego, given the contrasting form with which they got here.
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