In 2015, when Andra Day sang Rise Up, she was referring to a day in the history of Ghana women’s football where two unfancied side will rise through the different stages of qualification and make it to the finals of the Women’s FA Cup despite the setbacks they encountered in the Women’s Premier League.
The Women’s FA Cup final at the Legon Sports Stadium, will be played between Jonina Ladies and Faith Ladies. Two clubs making their debut in the finals of the finals.
Faith Ladies’ qualification to the Women’s FA Cup final is one that has your jaw on the floor. How did the team who could barely have their head above water qualify to the finals by striking former FA Champions Hasaacas down in the semifinals?
Faith Ladies in the quest for a final berth in the FA Cup defeated Teshie Constant in the round of 64 before edging out premier league sides Police Ladies and Soccer Intellectuals in the round of 32 and round of 16 respectively.
After a non-scoring draw with Northern Ladies in the quarter finals, a 4-3 penalty shoutout separated the sides. Faith Ladies now had the herculean task of rising up the storm and winning against Hasaacas Ladies with a lone goal. This propelled Faith Ladies to their first Women;s FA Cup final.
On the other side of the final is Jonina Ladies who will be hoping to write their names in the names in the history of the Women’s FA Cup. After scoring 15 goals in 5 rounds, Jonina stands out as a favorite, this according to coach Joseph Osei Owusu is because Jonina Ladies remain undefeated against Faith Ladies. In an interview of 3Sports, Coach Owusu is confident that his team will win the trophy. “We are ever prepared and ever ready for the finals as Faith Ladies has never scored us before so we have the upper hand but we know that the finals will be different.”
Sundays Women’s FA Cup final, is one that narrates a story of pushing through the odds until the end. Both finalists making it to the top of the Women’s FA Cup for the finals makes it the second time in a row the finals will be between 2 sides who are yet to win the trophy. On May 18, when the referee blows his whistle for the start of the game, the only thing which will be inevitable is the crowning of a new champion. A champion who for the very first time may defend their title in the lower division or champion who will very much play in the Premier League next season.
