Enow Ngachu,Coach of the Cameroon senior women’s team
Coach of the Cameroon senior women’s team, Enow Ngachu has admitted that ‘Les Lionnes’ were lucky to have edged Ghana out of the qualifiers of the 2016 Olympic Games at the latter’s backyard.
‘Les Lionnes’ qualified for the last round of the continental qualifiers after a 2-2 draw in the third round second leg in Accra on Saturday gave the edge on the away goal rule after a 3-3 tie on aggregate.
He told Cafonline.com “the Ghanaians are a very good side. They played very well over both legs but in Accra they committed some defensive errors just like Cameroon. Ghana could have carried the day but we did in the end. We were lucky.
“We both knew our weaknesses going into the games and it was overall a fairly balanced game in both fixtures.
“Ghana has never beaten the senior national team of Cameroon. We did not have adequate time to prepare for the first game but this case it was different for the second leg. After they came to Yaounde to draw one all, we entered into camp. In the first leg, we went to camp two days before the encounter that is why it was difficult for us”.
According to him, “we knew the game could be tough but we played very well. They (the players) were committed and patriotic. They played for the country because at the end,they will be rewarded”.
Cameroon will lock horns with Cote d’Ivoire for one of Africa’s two spots for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
On the otherhand, Ghana coach Yussif Basigi said, he is very disappointed following their elimination from the 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers.The Queens drew two-all to go out on away goal rule despite both legs ending three-all and Basigi is inconsolable.
“I am very disappointed by the turn of events and so is the team. We prepared for a better result, we were confident to achieve our target and we worked towards it together.
“The dream was to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time after several tries. We scored first, they equalize, we went ahead again and they came level. It is a very disappointing outcome for us.
“We did very well throughout but unfortunately, the results did not favour us. We were on course and this happens. My tactics worked except that everything did not go well as planned.”
The Lionesses of Cameroon in both fixtures came from behind to draw level and eventually progressed to the final stage of the qualifiers where Cote d’Ivoire were awaiting the winner to decide on the Olympic spot.
Basigi, who is under pressure following the team's abysmal performance at the last African Women Championship in Namibia and the current failure, was quick to defend his job.
“I am hungry to take the team forward because they have a future. My mission is not yet accomplished’’.
He had nice things to say about his opponents though. “They are a very good side, physical, determined and motivated. They came out very well, we sold a good advert for the continent in terms of quality and all I can say is that I respect their team.”
Basigi is expected to lead the Queens at the All African Games in Congo in September, having guided the team to qualify.
