Ghana’s Black Queens claimed the bronze medal at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), defeating reigning champions South Africa 4-3 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw
The Black Queens started off the stronger of the two and should have scored what ended up being a skied effort from Doris Boaduwaa.
South Africa slowly got into the game and would score due to an error from Ghanaian keeper Cynthia Konlan which was punished by Nonhlanhla Mthandi.
The Black Queens were revitalised in the second half as Alice Kusi’s header was mishandled and deflected by South African goalkeeper Andile Dlamini into her own net, levelling the score at 1-1.
Ghana’s Evelyn Badu rattling the crossbar in stoppage time before Cynthia Konlan denied South Africa’s Linda Motlhalo at the other end.
As neither team could find a breakthrough, sending the match straight to penalties.
Ghana held their nerve, converting four of their five spot-kicks. Black Queens’ keeper Cynthia Konlan was the hero as she saved vital penalties from Hildah Magaia and Sibulele Holweni.
Ghana’s successful takers included Alice Kusi, Josephine Bonsu, Jennifer Cudjoe, and Nancy Amoh, while Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah’s attempt was saved by Dlamini.
This is the west Africans nation’s first WAFCON podium finish since 2016, where they also beat South Africa in the third-place playoff.
Ghana’s head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren, gave a statement of the Black Queens’ resurgence after missing the previous edition of WAFCON: “I think overall we have made a great tournament.
“We have shown that we are one of the best teams in Africa. I think we have played better and better in the tournament,” he said in the post-match conference.
He continued: “I said from the start that the most important thing is to grow into this tournament to do better and better, to have a chance to win it. We lacked a little bit of luck the other day when we lost the penalties against Morocco because I think we deserved more, especially in the first half.”
