By Francis Ofori
Accra, Oct 24, GNA – The National female hockey team, Black Sticks ladies left the shores of Ghana on Monday to compete in the Africa qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
The team, made of 18 top players were drawn from the Greater Accra Hockey League with most of them representing the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Army, Ghana Police Service, and the Ghana Prisons Service.
The ladies would be keen to overcome the odds as they face Namibia, Kenya, and Zambia in Pool B of the qualifiers set for October 29 to November 05.
Their last appearance at the international level was the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations where Ghana grabbed a silver medal after finishing second place.
The Black Sticks Ladies would be hoping for better fortunes than in 2019 when they finished second at the 2021 Olympics qualifiers in Namibia.
The team of 18 players comprises Boye Abigail and Ampem Darkoa Mavis as goalkeepers while Sulemana Adizatu, Berko Mavis Boatemaa, Acquah Juwaila, Maanyembim Brenya serve as defenders.
The likes of Amoako Cecilia, Coffie Ernestina, Afriyie Lydia, Owusuwaa Margaret and Okine Rafiatu Dede will play as midfielders then Opoku Elizabeth, Sarfoa Martha, Narkuor Vivian, Antwi Doris, Konadu Jennifer, Copson Hageit, Ackon Mercy, and Addae Gifty as strikers.
Ghana would play her first game against Namibia on Sunday, October 29 and take on Kenya on Monday, October 30.
They would hit the pitch again on Tuesday November 01 2023, to play against Kenya for the last group matches at the University of Pretoria in Pretoria.
The winners of both categories would get an automatic slot to the Paris Olympics Games.
GNA