Ghana’s Black Queens delivered a stunning statement at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), thrashing Tanzania 4-1 in a must-win Group C showdown to seal their place in the quarter-finals.
In a high-stakes clash played at the Stade Municipal de Berkane, the Black Queens rose to the occasion with a commanding second-half performance that ended Ghana’s eight-year wait for a knockout stage appearance in the continental competition.
From the first whistle, Black Queens displayed intent, pressing the Tanzanian defence with aggressive attacks. Their pressure paid off in the 12th minute when a clearance mishap by Tanzanian goalkeeper Najiat Abass Idrisa rebounded off Princella Adubea and looped into the net. The fortunate goal handed Ghana the early advantage and settled their nerves in a tense encounter.
Despite dominating possession and carving out several chances — including a powerful shot that rattled the crossbar from Alice Kusi — Ghana couldn’t stretch their lead before halftime. Their failure to convert chances allowed Tanzania to claw back into the game.
Just before the break, Tanzania pounced on a lapse in Ghana’s defence. Stumai Athumani capitalised on space down the flank and fired a clinical finish from a tight angle in the 41st minute, silencing the Ghanaian bench and levelling the score at 1-1.
Ghana came out for the second half determined to regain control. The breakthrough arrived in the 63rd minute when Princess Marfo’s driving run into the box was halted illegally by the Tanzanian defence. Alice Kusi stepped up and coolly converted the resulting penalty — her second goal of the tournament — to restore Ghana’s lead.
The Black Queens then tightened their grip on the game, buoyed by tactical substitutions from head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren. The Swede’s decision to introduce Evelyn Badu and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah changed the momentum.
HIGHLIGHTS: 4-1
Ghana put on an impressive performance to secure a valuable win over Tanzania in Group C! #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 pic.twitter.com/XeLZZ5YDiw
— CAF Women’s Football (@CAFwomen) July 14, 2025
With Tanzania pushing forward in search of an equaliser, Ghana exploited the spaces left behind. In the 87th minute, Badu latched onto a loose ball and slotted it home for Ghana’s third, effectively killing off the contest. Minutes later, Boye-Hlorkah capped a brilliant team move with a composed finish to make it 4-1, sparking celebrations in the Ghanaian camp.
Coach Bjorkegren was full of praise for his squad after the match, highlighting their resilience in bouncing back after a difficult start to the tournament.
“I believe a lot in the work we are doing and I believe in the girls. I said before the game we were going to win and qualify, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” Bjorkegren told reporters. “It’s a big achievement. Ghana didn’t qualify for the last tournament, and the last time they did, they couldn’t get out of the group. So making it to the quarter-finals means a lot to us. We’ll now take it game by game.”
The Black Queens’ road to the last eight was anything but smooth. They opened their WAFCON 2024 campaign with a disheartening 2-0 loss to defending champions South Africa. Their second fixture ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw with Mali, leaving them bottom of Group C with a single point heading into the final group game.
However, Ghana turned their fortunes around when it mattered most. The emphatic win over Tanzania not only gave them four points but also a superior goal difference (+1), which saw them edge out Mali (-3) to finish second in the group behind South Africa.
That result secured Ghana an automatic spot in the quarter-finals — their first knockout appearance since 2016 — while Mali bowed out of the competition.
Ghana will now gear up for a quarter-final clash against Algeria on Saturday, July 19, at the same Stade Municipal de Berkane. The North Africans finished top of Group D and will pose a fresh challenge for the rejuvenated Black Queens.
ALSO READ:
- Kenya to face DR Congo in CHAN 2024 opener at Kasarani as CAF releases full fixture list
- Agai and Kobala crowned Kings and Queens of Nyanza Region football
- Government announces dates for CHAN 2024 ticket sales
Having fought their way back into contention, Ghana’s belief and momentum heading into the knockout rounds have been renewed. With key players like Kusi, Badu, and Adubea stepping up at critical moments, the Black Queens are looking poised to mount a serious challenge for continental glory.
As the tournament heads into the business end, fans across Ghana will be hoping that this victory marks the beginning of a memorable WAFCON journey for the team that dared to dream when the odds seemed stacked against them.
