Women’s football in Ghana has recently declined – Nii Lante Vanderpuye

Women's football in Ghana has recently declined - Nii Lante Vanderpuye

Former Sports Minister Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye has lamented Ghana’s regress in women’s football.

His remarks follow the Black Queens’ absence from the present Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

The Women’s World Cup began with five African participants – Morocco, Zambia, Nigeria, and South Africa – but all five have since abandoned the competition.

The Queens, led by Nora Häuptle, are undergoing a transition but have won all five games since she took charge.

In the forthcoming women’s African Cup of Nations qualifiers in September, they will face Rwanda.

Nii Lante Vanderpuye expressed his displeasure with the decline in the quality of women’s football in an interview with Citi Sports.

412202364728 l5hsk8v331 screenshot 2023 04 12 164223 750x481 1

“We are not doing what we are supposed to do. If you get the fundamentals wrong, you will always be wrong.”

“The good thing for me is, when it comes to football, there are best practices all over the world which we can look at.”

“Look at the performance of the African teams at the World Cup, and tell me why Ghana is not participating.”

“When women’s football started, it was just Ghana and Nigeria.”

“Today, Morocco is participating in the world cup, and Zambia participated.”

“That should tell you that there are some people doing things right, but Ghana isn’t.”

“Morocco, who by their culture and tradition, women are not even supposed to be exposed to such things, are now playing football and qualified for the tournament.”

“We don’t build on the past appearances at major tournaments. What have we done? Nothing.”

“Other countries have now progressed with their football and today they are beating us at tournaments.”

Ghana last competed in the Women’s World Cup in 2007, which was hosted by China.

The Black Queens were eliminated from a group that included Norway, Australia, and Canada.

Under previous Coach Isaac Paha, the Queens surrendered 15 goals and scored only three in the three group games.

The Football Association fired Paha after the team’s dismal performance in China.

Since then, the Queens have failed to qualify for the global championship, with rival Nigeria proving to be a difficult nut to crack in the qualifications for Ghana’s senior female squad.