The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for Ghana 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations officially launched the tournament in Accra Friday night.
The 13th edition of the Africa Women Cup of Nations, the biennial international football championship organized by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) for women’s national teams of Africa, is scheduled for November 17 to December 1, 2018.
“The Caf inspection team has already visited us somewhere in December [2017] to assess our readiness to successfully host the tournament.
“And I’m pleased to announce that the feedback has been encouraging. We are indeed poised to deliver what will be the best organized tournament in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
“This tournament will not only bring excitement and entertainment but also will help improve the state of our infrastructure for sports development. The LOC is working assiduously to package an excellent tournament,” said chairperson Hon. Freda Prempeh.
Caf officially handed Ghana hosting mandate in December 2016. The Women’s Afcon will be contested by eight (8) countries including hosts Ghana.
“Between November and December this year, Ghana will play hosts to 7 other African countries as we celebrate the women’s game.
“…Significant time and resources have been invested into the organization of this tournament. We have been challenged by His Excellency the President to raise the bar and organize a tournament which will leave indelible footprints of people. We want to give this tournament a very unique flavour. We need the public to fill the stadia…” she added.
Ghana is a first-time host.
“And I’m particularly happy because it is an opportunity to compete for glory in the spirit of friendship and unity on our soil.
“In other to whip up interest before, during and hopefully after the tournament, the LOC will be engaging the general public in various activities including ‘Women Only’ Jama competition, quizzes, exhibitions etc. from time to time, we will be rolling out some of our projects.
“Very soon, we will be outdooring our mascot for the tournament and subsequently, we will outdoor our official theme song,” Hon. Prempeh noted.
The competition will be played in two cities – Accra which will house four teams in Group A with Cape Coast being home for Group B teams. Two training fields have been also earmarked for each host city. For teams in Accra, they will have the Achimota School and El-Wak Stadium while the Nduom Stadium and Robert Mensah Stadium will be available as training centres for Cape Coast-based teams.
The Women’s Afcon Launch had Ghana’s Chief of Staff, Hon. Akosua Frema Opare as special guest of honor. The event also saw members of the Local Organising Committee, Minister for Youth and Sports and other government officials, Clar Weah, wife of Liberia President and Caf women’s football ambassador and players of the Ghana senior women’s national team, the Black Queens in attendance.
The 2018 Women’s Afcon will serve as a qualifier to the 2019 World Cup. The top three teams earn an appearance in France.
