Soccer News of Wednesday, 18 December 2002

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Queen's goalie still No.1

Warri (Nigeria) - Black Queens' goalkeeper, Memunatu Sulemana might have conceded her first goals in the African Women's Soccer fiesta now in progress in Warri, Nigeria, but that does not take anything away from her achievements and her being voted as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) twice on the trot.

Sulumana has so far remained the only player to have been voted the MVP consecutively, having emerged the MVP in the first semi-final match between the Queens and the Indomitable Lioness of Cameroon, and their all important encounter with the defending champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria.

Having made countless grand saves to keep the Queens on top, the Lioness who had not scored more than a goal in the championship managed to put two goals into Sulemana's net thereby making them the first country to score against the Queens in the 14-day fiesta. They are the second to have leveled up from two goals down after newcomers Ethiopia fought from two goals down to hold Mali 2-2 at the group stages.

Surprisingly, Sulemana, though yet to fully recover from the countless knocks she received from the Falcons match has proved too good and could be classified as the best in Africa.

Because of her outstanding show, the Nigerian press have worked hard to link the goalie's excellence to her four month presence in the Nigerian league last year, claiming the Ghanaian’s presence in the league provided her good goalkeeping skills.

Memunatu’s inability to play for Lagos club side, Pelica Ladies, is linked her failure to obtain an ITC. Nigeria’s headcoach Sam Okpudo, admits that Sulemana is a very dependable barrier.

Mavis Djangmah, deputy skipper of Ghana's Black Queens on Tuesday recorded the fastest goal ever since the inception of the AWC in 1998. By her goal Djangmah has added her name to the goalking race with two goals. Skipper Alberta Sackey is currently leading the chart with four goals. Djangmah netted her other goal against Mali. Nana Ama Gyemfua has also scored two goals with Adjoa Bayor having one goal.