Ghana Football Association’s Kurt Okraku has credited the strategic focus on women’s football at all levels for the successful qualification of the Black Queens to the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Speaking to the Black Queens upon their return to Ghana from South Africa, where they lost to Namibia but qualified 3-2 on aggregate, Okraku highlighted the positive outcomes of prioritising women’s football.
The Black Queens (@GhanaWNT) touched down earlier today after booking a place in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.@frank_achie has more in this report.#3Sports pic.twitter.com/O4gpUJuTag
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) December 7, 2023
“Months ago, we took a decision to support and invest in women’s football and also to ensure that everybody who loves the sport gets the needed respect and recognition,” Okraku stated. “That singular decision brought us Nora Häuptle and brought you together as a group. From the very beginning, you all decided to die for the nation.”
“Today that hard work has yielded these results. Thanks to you for achieving this feat; Ghana is proud and shall surely reward you,” he added.
President Okraku expressed gratitude to the team for staying true to their values, emphasizing the strength of unity. “I have always said when we stay together and encourage each other in good and bad times, we will come out with flying colours. The vision was to qualify, and at the end, you made it, and that’s why this team has a lot of traction now.”
“This team had gained the attention of all who matter; everyone wants to know the Black Queens now, and this feat is going to open doors for you as players and the younger folks who are thinking of pursuing a career in football,” he continued.
Okraku assured the team of thorough preparations ahead of the tournament in Morocco.
“We have been to the WAFCON before, even though this is a milestone because in five years we have not been there; qualifying alone is not enough. This is the time for us to give the rest of Africa a showdown. Our best position at the AFCON has been second place years ago, but we have enough quality in this team to be African champions,” he declared.
“Whatever it takes for us to get you prepared for the AFCON in Morocco, with the support of Asantewaa the fearless, we will make sure this team is ready,” Okraku concluded.
Black Queens secured their qualification with an impressive performance, winning all but one game in the qualifiers, with a 1-0 defeat against Namibia, which was inconsequential as the team secured qualification to a major tournament for the first time since 2018 when they hosted the WAFCON.