After humiliating the host, Capital Braves of Malawi, 17-0 in the first match on Saturday at the ongoing 2023 Africa Club Hockey Championships, Nigeria’s representative Delta Queens Hockey team, suffered a 3-4 defeat to their West African neighbour, Ghana, yesterday.
The championships began on a high note on Saturday with the Asaba-based team teaching the host country some bitter lessons of hockey, racing a 9-0 victory in the first half and adding another 8-0 scores in the second stanza.
The failure of Kaduna State male and female teams to make it to Blantyre, Malawi, forced the orgarnisers to reshuffle the fixtures.
The Lakers of Kenya had a 12-0 victory over the Scorpions of Malawi in the other Women’s game on Saturday, just as Blazers, also of Kenya handed a 13-1 defeat to Genetric of Malawi.
The game between Nigeria and Ghana on Sunday, provided the fans the real fun of hockey, with Delta Queens falling behind 1-2 in the first half. Faith Obukowho scored for Delta Queens.
But the coach Ade Jacobs-led Delta Queens Hockey team rediscovered their redeem early in the second half, with Obukowho scoring to bring the game to 2-2, with 15 minutes to play. The Ghanaians fought back and took the lead 3-2, but Delta Queens’ Benedicta Johnson struck to level at 3-3. Just when the fans had concluded that the game will end in a draw, the Ghanaians were awarded what an official of Delta Queens described as controversial penalty in the last minute. Ghana scored to win at 4-3.
The defeat notwithstanding, Delta Queens is eying a podium finish in the championships, which will end on November 26. Today is rest day for the Asaba-based side. Delta Queens left Lagos for Blantyre on Wednesday with 18 players, three coaches and other team officials.
