The Ghanaian women’s national team tied 1-1 with Cameroon in the first-leg match of the Olympic qualifying third round. 

The captains of both sides were the scorers of the tie-breaking game.  Black Queens midfielder, Mercy Myles, netted for the Black Queens in the 25th minute. 

In the second half, the opposing side’s defender, Christian Marie, shot in Cameroon’s 54th minute equalizer. 

The Queens flew into Yaounde hungry for revenge — the team were denied a qualification in the 2012 Olympic games in London, after falling in a 2-1 defeat against Cameroon  — However, the Queens entered the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo missing two key players — striker, Faiza Ibrahim, who is still recovering from an injury from training, and midfielder, Elizabeth Addo, a scorer in the squad’s previous 3-0 victory against Egypt.

The Ghanaian team knew that they were up for a tough game to overcome as they ambition for a first-time olympic qualification. 

Although it was Cameroon’s first World Cup appearance this year in Canada, the Indomitable Lionesses made it to the round of 16 — after defeating Ecuador and Switzerland to proceed past the group stages, but then losing against defending champions and 2015 finalists, Japan.

The Cameroonian side were the only African team to make it past the group stages, making it further than other African teams, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire.

The matches between the two sides had an undertone of preparation for the 2015 All-Africa Games.  The two sides are headed to clash once again in Brazzaville, as both sides were drawn to face each other in the same group. 

The Black Queens will square off as the home team at the Accra Sports Stadium on August 2nd, at 3:00 p.m.  The second-leg match will determine which team will play either Côte d’Ivoire or Zimbabwe in the final round — a match which will then decide which two teams will travel to Rio de Janeiro to compete in the 2016 Olympic games.

Starting Line-ups:

Cameroon: Ngo Ndom - Manie Christine, Awona Marie, Mendoua Bibi Balbine, Meffometou Falone - Yango Grace, Ngani Agathe, Ngo Mbeleck - Akaba Edoa Henriette, Aboudi Onguene, Ngono Mani 

Ghana: Patricia Mantey - Hillia Cobblah, Cynthia Adobea, Linda Eshun, Janet Egyir - Mercy Miles (C), Juliet Acheampong, Safia Abdul Rahman, Portia Boakye, Samira Suleman, Agnes Aduako

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