Ghana’s Black Queens suffered a 3-1 defeat to Nigeria in their final warm-up match ahead of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The game, played on Sunday at the Lanoura Complex in Morocco, was the ninth preparatory fixture for the Queens as they gear up for their return to the continental stage, having missed the last two editions since 2018.
Nigeria, record champions of the WAFCON, proved a class above on the day and exposed gaps in Ghana’s setup. The result has sparked concerns about the Black Queens’ readiness for the tournament, with head coach Kim Bjorkegren facing key decisions before their group opener.
The Super Falcons opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Chiwendu Ihezuo’s deflected strike left the Ghanaian goalkeeper wrong-footed. 10 minutes later, Asisat Oshoala calmly converted a penalty to double Nigeria’s lead. They added a third in the 51st minute, tightening their grip on the game.
Ghana showed more urgency after the third goal. Evelyn Badu had a goal ruled out for offside, while Doris Boaduwaa went close with a low shot. The Queens finally got on the scoresheet in the 88th minute when Alice Kusi converted a late penalty, but it was too little, too late.
Ghana will begin their WAFCON campaign on July 7 against defending champions South Africa, followed by games against Mali and Tanzania in Group C.
Preparations have been mixed. Wins over Malawi and Benin provided some encouragement, but defeats to Morocco and Nigeria have raised doubts. Senegal remains the only WAFCON-qualified side Ghana have beaten during this build-up.
Coach Bjorkegren has admitted his team are not favourites but insists they can still cause an upset. That will, however, require a significant step up before their opening match.
