Coach Yusif Basigi’s charges picked full points on Sunday ahead of Wednesday’s showdown with Nigeria
Ghana got their 2016 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign off to a flying start with a 3-1 victory over Kenya on Sunday.
Esse Akida put the East Africans into the lead but Samira Suleman, Elizabeth Addo and Portia Boakye netted after recess to secure maximum points for the Black Queens at the Stade Municipal de Limbe in Cameroon.
The win puts Ghana on second place on the group table, but only separated by goals from leaders Nigeria who romped to a 6-0 victory over Mali.
Sunday’s game marked Kenya’s first ever appearance at the championship, and it didn’t take too long to reach another landmark when Esse Akida opened the scoring in the 20st minute.
Samira Suleman, however, restored parity on 49 minutes with a header after connecting with a Portia Boakye free-kick.
Elizabeth Addo put Ghana in the lead from the spot on 71 minutes following a handball by Ann Aluoch.
The penalty, though, was not without controversies as Kenya protested that the contact happened outside the box.
As if to level things up, Cameroonian referee Jeanne Ekoumou made another controversial penalty call in favour of Kenya shortly after the first episode.
After consulting her assistant, however, she rescinded her decision, letting the Queens off the hook.
With a minute to full-time, Ghana found the back of the net again through Boakye, but that was only after a Suleman effort was controversially ruled out for offside.
Ghana, who are making their ninth appearance at the competition, play Nigeria in their next game on Wednesday.
Source : Goal
