Ghana’s National Volleyball teams have qualified for the finals in the male and female contest in the ongoing Volleyball African Cup of Nations tournament in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The two national teams will both play their final matches with the team from Mali. Ghana’s female team will be playing Mali for the first time in this tournament, while the male team will be playing Mali for the second time in this tournament. The male team from Mali beat Ghana’s male team, 3:0 in the opening match.
National Coach of the Male team, Rahman Danladi is very hopeful that the story will change in the final.
“Mali is a good side, both female and male, but Ghana is equally good on both sides and I can assure you that we are very poised for victory. The ladies have not lost a match since the tournament and with the high morale in camp I am very sure they will go all out to win the final match. The men have learnt so much from the first match with Mali and so the story will be different,this time round.”
Some friends and teammates of two of the national female volleyball players, Asana Iddrisu and Rahma Abubakari prayed for victory for the two national teams at the Fire festival in Yendi, on the ‘sacred’ night of August 8, 2022.
Asana Iddrisu and Rahma Abubakari are young talents identified and groomed by the Fusion Volleyball Club in Yendi in the Northern Region of Ghana. In Yendi volleyball is fast becoming popular among the youth, thanks to the role of Fusion Volleyball Club in identifying and grooming young talents.
Other players from Northern Ghana are Abdul Ganiu Mashud and Alhassan Imoro, Elkana Aziks, Rafiq Bawa, Ajara Abubakar and Sandra Ayepoa. Their inclusion has sent a positive signal that volleyball can thrive in Northern Ghana and players from this area of Ghana can attract national call-ups once they do well in the sport.
FOR THE RECORDS
First match-(female) Set1, Ghana 25-9 Benin, Set2, Ghana 28-26 Benin, Set3, Ghana 28-26 Benin, representing 3:0 in favour of Ghana.
(Male) Set1, Ghana 24-26 Mali, Set2, Ghana 23-25 Mali, Set3 Ghana 26-28 Mali, presenting 0:3 in favour of Mali.
Second match-(female) Set1, Ghana 25-18 Niger, Set2, Ghana 25-15 Niger, Set3, Ghana 25-22 Niger, representing 3:0 in favour of Ghana.
(Male) Set1 Ghana 25-12 Niger, Set2, Ghana 25-19 Niger, Set3, Ghana 25-18 Niger, representing 3:0 in favour of Ghana.
Third match-(female) Set1, Ghana 25-13 Benin, Set2, Ghana 25-20 Benin, Set3 Ghana 25-11 Benin, representing 3:0 in favour of Ghana.
(Male) Set1, Ghana 25-23 Benin, Set2, Ghana 28-30 Benin, Set3 Ghana 25-19 Benin, Set4 Ghana 25-16, representing 3:1 in favour of Ghana.