Black Queens fell to a 2-0 defeat against defending champions South Africa in their opening match of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda on Monday, July 7, 2025.
The match marked Ghana’s long-awaited return to Africa’s biggest women’s football tournament after seven years away; their last appearance was as hosts in 2018, where they exited at the group stage.
But their comeback got off to a difficult start. A VAR review in the 27th minute handed a penalty to South Africa.
Linda Motlhalo made no mistake from the spot to put Banyana Banyana ahead. Just six minutes later, Jermaine Seoposenwe doubled the lead with a composed low finish to leave the Queens trailing 2-0 at halftime.
Ghana’s goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan made a crucial save early in the second half, punching clear Refiloe Jane’s dangerous delivery to keep hopes alive.
The Black Queens almost pulled one back in the 60th minute but were denied by the woodwork in a frustrating double attempt that summed up their luckless afternoon.
Head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren made a triple substitution in the 65th minute, bringing on Princella Adubea, Nancy Amoh and Princess Owusu to inject fresh energy, but South Africa held firm to secure all three points.
The win puts Banyana Banyana top of Group C with Ghana bottom after the opening round. The Black Queens will look to bounce back in their next match against Mali on Friday, July 11, 2025.
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