The Ghana Football Association President, Kurt Edwin Simon Okraku, has expressed strong confidence in the Black Queens ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), assuring that the Ghana Football Association will provide the team with full support to help them achieve success.
Speaking to the media after the WAFCON draw held in Rabat, Morocco, on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Okraku said Ghana should be ready to face any opponent, especially after the team’s impressive third-place finish in the last edition of the tournament.
“On the back of the fact that Ghana were third at the last WAFCON, Ghana should be ready to face any opponent. If you want to become champions, you must be able to play against any side on the African continent. For me, I am happy about the draw,” he stated.
The GFA President emphasized that the Association remains committed to investing heavily in the team’s preparation, just as it did in the previous tournament.
He recalled how the Black Queens were given extensive exposure through international training tours and friendly matches.
“Taking our minds back, the FA invested a lot in preparing the Queens for the last WAFCON. We travelled to Morocco, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, and later returned to Morocco again for our pre-tournament campaign,” he said.
Okraku revealed that the same level of preparation and commitment will be maintained ahead of the 2026 edition.
“We intend to give the team the same level of support. You would even realise that we stepped it up a bit by playing against England in Southampton. That shows the desire of this federation to see women’s football grow at the highest level,” he added.
He further expressed optimism about Ghana’s chances of lifting the trophy, stressing that the ultimate ambition of the nation is to win the WAFCON title for the first time in history.
“The ambition of the nation is to win the trophy, and I think we are not far away from that,” he concluded.
The tournament will take place in Morocco for the third consecutive time, from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
It will also serve as a qualification route to the next FIFA Women’s World Cup set to be hosted in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027.
The Black Queens will be hoping to build on their strong showing in the previous tournament as they prepare to challenge for continental glory in 2026.
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Story by Erica Odeenyin Odoom | univers.ug.edu.gh
