2018 Women's AFCON: Ghana look to improve football reputation

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02:30

In Ghana, football fans are getting ready as the country prepares to host the Africa Women Cup of Nations. Eight teams from the continent will be competing for the trophy. But it could also be a chance for Ghana to improve its damaged reputation in the sport. CGTN'S Nabil Ahmed Rufai reports.

A lot of work has been done at the Accra Sports Stadium to make it ready for the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations.

Ghana, Algeria, Cameroon and Mali which are in group A will play their matches here.

Group B - consisting of Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Zambia - will face each other 80 miles west of the capital at the Cape Coast stadium.

Football activities almost grinded to a halt in Ghana when the country's football association President, Kwesi Nyantakyi was rocked in a corruption scandal.

NABIL AHMED RUFAI ACCRA, GHANA "Hosting the Africa women cup of nations is a test case for the normalisation committee set up by FIFA to prove Ghana is on the part to restoring its footballing reputation. Ghana hopes to make that mark while also exploring its tourism potential."

And Ghanaian football fans have high expectations for the women's national team.

"I'm very sure the coach will not leave anything left unturned and for the players, too, it's an honour to win the cup."

"I think we all know what has been going on about the football, it's not been going really well but we pray that Ghana wins."

"I'm expecting the black Queens to do Ghana proud, looking at the friendly matches they played against Cameroon and Kenya, South Africa. I'm looking forward to, if not picking the trophy, they should get to the semis."

Ghana's team is tipped to face Nigeria in the final - a side which has won the competition a record ten times.

HUSSEIN HASSAN SPORTS JOURNALIST "Nigeria has always been the strongest female team on the continent. Without doubt, they have dominated for so long and if Ghana is to win this competition, it would have to do something extra."

Ghana's women will be hoping to stay in all the way until the final on December the first. NABIL AHMED RUFAI, CGTN ACCRA GHANA.