Ghana’s Black Queens succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against defending champions South Africa in their opening match of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Monday,July 7.
It was a result that underscored the clinical finishing of Banyana Banyana and exposed the defenseless abilities within the Ghanaian squad. Despite moments of spirited play, Ghana’s inability to prevent two rapid first-half goals from the more experienced South African side proved decisive.
The match, held at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda, saw South Africa capitalize on defensive lapses, effectively sealing the result before the hour mark with their clinical finishing. While Ghana created chances, notably Alice Kusi’s powerful strike hitting the crossbar and Evelyn Badu’s header also striking the woodwork, they were ultimately left to rue these missed opportunities.
The defeat puts immediate pressure on Ghana as they navigate a challenging Group C.
The Black Queens, returning to the continental stage after missing the last edition, faced a stern test against a South African team that has won four of the last five encounters between the two nations.
South Africa, ranked 54th globally and 2nd in Africa, entered the tournament with a strong run of seven wins in seven matches this year, contrasting with Ghana’s three wins from eight official matches in 2025.
Ghana’s head coach, Kim Lars Björkegren, had aimed to rebuild the squad with a youthful core, incorporating many players from Ghana’s U-20 set-up.
Despite Björkegren’s optimism about the team’s quality, pre-tournament friendlies, including a 3-1 defeat to Nigeria, had already highlighted existing defensive concerns.
These vulnerabilities were evidently exploited by the reigning champions. The Black Queens must now regroup swiftly for their remaining group matches against Mali and Tanzania. While qualification as one of the best third-placed teams remains a possibility, Ghana will need a quick and decisive response in their upcoming fixtures to keep their WAFCON campaign alive.