Ghana's female Hockey team, the Black Sticks on Saturday redeemed the nation's image when they chalked a 3-0 win over their Egyptian counterparts in the opening match of the female category of the ongoing 2009 Africa Hockey Cup for Nations at the National Hockey Stadium in Accra.
The victory was a face saving one for host nation, Ghana after the male team suffered a humiliating 8-0 defeat at the hands of South Africa on Friday. The female team, which now carries the nation's hope of the 'Host and Win', opened the scores in the 8th minute through Beatrice Darko from a penalty corner.
Exhibiting a shadow of their male counterparts as showed in the opening game, the Egyptians struggled to level up but had to face stiff opposition from the Ghanaian Ladies. Georgina Sam increased the tally for Ghana in the 30th minute of the first half from another penalty shot to end the first half on a brighter note. The second half saw both sides playing under low tempo with little efforts at finding a goal, with the Egyptians keen on fetching a consolation with the likes of Sayed Sarah and Noura Mahmoud failing to break the back line of Ghana. The Black
Sticks, despite pilling pressure on the Egyptians could not utilize some of the few chances that came their way. A last minute effort however fetched the Black Sticks their third and final goal also from a short penalty corner converted by Pamela Condobrey. The Egyptians from then responded with a last minute effort and were rewarded with a penalty corner but the effort was wasted to deny them a consolation goal.
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