Ghana’s much-anticipated return to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations didn’t begin as hoped, as the Black Queens fell 2-0 to defending champions South Africa in their opening Group C match on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Stade de Honneur in Oujda, Morocco.
The match began at a high tempo, with both teams trying to establish their authority early on. However, it was Banyana Banyana, the reigning champions, who showed their experience and sharpness in front of goal. The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when Linda Motlhalo calmly converted a penalty after a Ghanaian defender brought down Thembi Kgatlana in the box. That goal seemed to unsettle the Black Queens, who conceded again just five minutes later.
This time, it was Jermaine Seoposenwe who punished Ghana’s defence, sliding in a precise low shot to double South Africa’s lead. With the Queens now chasing the game, the pressure mounted, and although they created chances, luck wasn’t on their side.
Alice Kusi and Evelyn Badu both came agonizingly close to scoring in the second half, each rattling the crossbar with powerful efforts. Substitute Princess Marfo also gave the South African goalkeeper something to worry about with a decent strike, but it wasn’t enough to break the deadlock.
Despite showing resilience and creating scoring opportunities, the Black Queens’ defensive lapses and South Africa’s clinical execution sealed the 2‑0 loss. Ghana now needs strong performances in the remaining group games to revive their campaign.
The 2–0 loss leaves Ghana in a challenging position in Group C, with crucial matches against Mali on July 11 and Tanzania on July 14 still to come. They will need to regroup quickly and find their scoring touch if they hope to advance to the knockout stages.
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Story by Simon Owusu Prempeh|univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Pius Asack
