Black Queens face South Africa in WAFCON return after 7 years

Ghana’s senior women’s national football team, the Black Queens, are set to return to the continental spotlight at the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, marking their first appearance since 2018. The tournament runs from Saturday, July 5 to Saturday, July 26, 2025.

The Queens, three-time WAFCON finalists (1998, 2002, 2006), are hoping to “reclaim lost glory” and break their 19-year final drought. Their last podium finish was third place in 2016. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has significantly boosted the tournament’s incentives, doubling the winner’s prize and increasing total prize money by 45%.

Ghana has been drawn into Group C and will face reigning champions South Africa on Monday, July 7, at 16:00 GMT at the Honneur Stadium in Oudja. The match will be officiated by Moroccan referee Bouchra Karboubi. Ghana’s other group opponents are Mali, whom they play on July 11, and Tanzania on July 14.

Head Coach Kim Lars Björkegren is steering a renewed squad back into WAFCON action. The Swedish tactician is confident in the team’s ability to defy expectations. “Of course, we know we’re a bit of an underdog,” he said. “But I know that we have the quality in this group to beat all the teams in this tournament.” Stressing trust and resilience, Björkegren noted that the team has “grown a lot over the last month” and is in “much better shape” physically and tactically.

“Ghana has so much talent; it’s in the DNA,” he added. “Add 5% of the Swedish mentality, and you have a team that’s not just good in Africa, but good in the world.”

Goalkeeper Cynthia Findiib echoed her coach’s confidence, downplaying the pressure on the team ahead of their clash with South Africa. “I don’t think going into this game there’s going to be too much pressure on us. We are here to fight. We are determined to actually take the Cup home and reclaim our glory,” she said. Findiib sees the opening match as wide open: “It’s 50-50. Any of the teams has a chance to win this game.”

The Black Queens are ranked 66th in the world. In their last six matches, they have recorded three wins, two losses, and a draw, including recent friendly victories against Malawi and Benin. They have scored an average of 3.2 goals in their last five games. Key players include Princess Marfo, Portia Boakye, Princella Adubea, Doris Boaduwaa, and Evelyn Badu.

Their first opponent, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, enter the tournament ranked 54th globally and unbeaten in their last seven games, winning six and drawing one. Their defence has been tight, conceding just 0.6 goals per game. South Africa’s squad is led by players such as Refiloe Jane, Linda Motlhalo, and Jermaine Seoposenwe.

The historical record between the two sides favours South Africa, who have won four of their five encounters with Ghana. Ghana’s lone win came in 2016, a 1-0 result that secured them third place.

To support the campaign, CAF and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) have released a detailed media guide featuring match schedules, player profiles, and a message from CAF 2nd Vice President and GFA President Kurt Okraku. Ghana’s Sports Minister Kofi Iddie Adams also extended his well wishes to the team, which is seen as a vital part of the country’s broader women’s football strategy.