Ghana’s Black Queens suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their second Group D match at the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), leaving their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals hanging in the balance.
The match, played at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, saw Cameroon secure victory through a first-half penalty converted by Marie Gisèle Divine Ngah Manga after a lengthy VAR review awarded the Indomitable Lionesses a spot kick for handball inside the Ghana penalty area.
Ghana started the game brightly, enjoying possession and attempting to control the tempo, but struggled to penetrate a disciplined Cameroonian defence.
Cameroon gradually grew into the contest and took the lead in the 19th minute when Manga calmly converted from the penalty spot.
The Black Queens returned from the break with renewed determination, with coach Kim Lars Björkegren introducing Evelyn Badu to add attacking energy.
Ghana created several opportunities in the second half, with Cameroon’s goalkeeper forced into crucial saves, including efforts from Portia Boakye and Badu.
Ghana appeared to have found the equaliser in the closing stages when Badu finished from close range after a defensive mix-up in the Cameroon box.
However, the goal was ruled out following a VAR review, which determined that Doris Boaduwaa was offside during the build-up.
Cameroon held firm in the final minutes, making defensive adjustments and managing the remaining seven minutes of added time to secure all three points.
The defeat leaves Ghana with three points from two matches after their opening 2-0 victory over Cape Verde, while Cameroon have already qualified for the knockout stage after recording two wins.
The Black Queens now face a crucial final group match against Mali on Thursday, where they must secure victory to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.
However, qualification will also depend on results from other matches in the group.
The setback continues Ghana’s struggles in second group matches at the tournament, with the team still searching for a win in such fixtures since 2008.
Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, the Black Queens were unable to find the decisive finish against a physically strong and organised Cameroon side.
Coach Björkegren and his team will now need to regroup quickly, improve their attacking efficiency, and deliver a complete performance against Mali as they fight to remain in contention for a place in the next round of the expanded 16-team continental competition.
