Ghana’s Black Queens are back on the continental stage after a six-year absence and will test their strength against defending champions South Africa in their opening match at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) later today.
Led by head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, Ghana is participating in the tournament for the first time since 2018, when they exited during the group stage as hosts. Their return is marked by a challenging fixture, facing Banyana Banyana, the reigning queen of African women’s football, who lifted the title in 2022.
The encounter also revives a familiar rivalry, as this will be the third time the two nations meet in their WAFCON opening match. Interestingly, Ghana won both previous opening encounters: a dominant 4-0 win in 1998 and a 3-0 win in 2004.
In total, the Black Queens and South Africa have met seven times in the history of the Women’s AFCON, with both teams earning a share of victories. Here’s how they stack up:
Head-to-Head – Black Queens vs South Africa at WAFCON:
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2016: Ghana 1-0 South Africa
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2014: Ghana 1-1 South Africa
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2008: Ghana 0-1 South Africa
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2006: Ghana 1-0 South Africa
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2004: Ghana 3-0 South Africa
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2000: Ghana 0-1 South Africa
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1998: Ghana 4-0 South Africa
Today’s clash is scheduled to kick off at 16:00 GMT, with live commentary available on Joy 99.7 FM. Expectations are high as Ghana aims to start strong and rewrite its WAFCON story.
