Ghana’s Black Queens suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their second Group D match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, leaving their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals hanging on the outcome of their final group fixture against Mali.
A first-half penalty converted by Marie Ngah in the 19th minute proved decisive as the Indomitable Lionesses secured their second consecutive victory of the tournament to move to the top of Group D with a maximum six points. Ngah has now scored in both of Cameroon’s matches and taking her tally to three goals, underlining her importance to the Central African side.
The Black Queens thought they had rescued a point when substitute Evelyn Badu found the back of the net in the 80th minute. However, celebrations were cut short after the goal was ruled out for offside, with Doris Boaduwaa adjudged to have been in an offside position during the build-up by VAR.
It was a frustrating evening for Kim Lars Björkegren’s side, who struggled to impose themselves during a difficult opening 45 minutes before producing a much-improved display after the break.
The result also extended Ghana’s long wait for a WAFCON victory over Cameroon, with the Black Queens still searching for their first triumph against the Lionesses in the competition since a 1-0 group-stage success in 2014.
Cameroon Take Control Early
Cameroon started the contest with greater intensity, pressing Ghana high up the pitch and preventing the Black Queens from building attacks through midfield. Forced into playing long balls from defence, Ghana found little joy as skipper Portia Boakye repeatedly attempted to bypass Cameroon’s press, but the direct approach rarely troubled the opposition backline.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute after Cameroon won a penalty after Benedicte Simon handled the ball inside the penalty area. Play initially continued but VAR called on the referee to have a check before awarding the penalty and Marie Ngah calmly sent the goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan the wrong way to hand her side a deserved lead.
The Lionesses continued to dominate possession and dictated the tempo for much of the first half, with Ghana struggling to retain the ball for sustained periods. The Black Queens were fortunate to trail by only a single goal at the interval after a disciplined defensive effort prevented Cameroon from adding to their advantage.
Improved Second Half Offers Encouragement
Ghana emerged from the dressing room with renewed purpose and looked a completely different side after the restart. The introduction of fresh legs injected energy into the attack, while the midfield began to compete more effectively for second balls and control possession.
The Black Queens created several promising opportunities as the game wore on, pinning Cameroon deeper into their own half. Their best moment arrived in the 80th minute when Evelyn Badu finished clinically after an attacking move that saw the Cameroon goalkeeper commit but failed to clear the ball before it fell to Badu who finished off but celebrations were cut short after VAR review.
Although the result ended in disappointment, Ghana’s second-half display offered positives ahead of the decisive clash with Mali. The team showed greater urgency, improved movement and a willingness to attack with numbers, qualities that were largely absent in the opening half.
For Björkegren, the challenge will be finding a way to ensure his side starts matches with the same intensity they displayed after the break. Against stronger opponents, slow starts can prove costly, and Sunday’s defeat was another example of how a single lapse can determine the outcome of tightly contested matches.
The contest also reinforced the fine margins that have characterised meetings between Ghana and Cameroon at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Encounters between the two rivals have traditionally been closely fought, with narrow scorelines the norm. Indeed, the last time either side won by more than one goal at the tournament was Ghana’s 2-0 victory in 2000.
With Cameroon now well placed to secure qualification for the knockout stage, attention shifts to Ghana’s final group match against Mali. Victory would significantly boost the Black Queens’ chances of progressing into the quarter finals, while anything less could bring their WAFCON campaign to an early end. Cameroon, meanwhile, will face Cape Verde looking to complete a perfect group-stage campaign after making it two wins from two in Morocco.
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