Black Queens Face WAFCON Setback After Narrow Defeat to Cameroon in Casablanca

Ghana’s Black Queens suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their second Group D match of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Sunday. Played at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, the match proved to be a significant test for the Ghanaian side, who were looking to build on their opening-day victory against Cape Verde. A first-half penalty proved to be the deciding factor, leaving the Black Queens with critical work to do to secure a place in the knockout stages of the tournament.

The game's solitary goal came after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review identified a handball by Ghana’s Benedicte Simon inside the penalty area. Cameroon’s Marie Gisele Ngah Manga stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick, giving the Indomitable Lionesses a lead they would maintain until the final whistle. Despite the setback, the Black Queens pushed aggressively for an equalizer throughout the second half. Midfielder Evelyn Badu appeared to have leveled the scoring, but her effort was ultimately disallowed for offside. Other notable attempts from Doris Boaduwaa and captain Portia Boakye kept the Cameroonian defense under pressure, but Ghana was unable to find the clinical edge needed to score.

Ahead of the encounter, Black Queens head coach Kim Lars Björkegren had anticipated a difficult match, describing Cameroon as a "tougher test" than their previous opponents. Although Björkegren expressed full confidence in his players' abilities and preparation prior to kickoff, the physical and tactical discipline of the Cameroonian side presented a formidable challenge that Ghana struggled to overcome. This result marks the first defeat for the team in the competition, highlighting the high stakes and competitive nature of Group D.

The Black Queens must now turn their attention to a high-stakes final group fixture against Mali, scheduled for August 6. With their progression to the next round of the tournament hanging in the balance, Ghana needs a victory to ensure their WAFCON campaign remains alive. The technical team is expected to focus on improving finishing and maintaining defensive discipline as they prepare for the Malian challenge, aiming to regain the momentum established at the start of the tournament.