President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, has expressed strong optimism about the future of the Black Queens following their painful semi-final exit at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The Ghanaian women’s national team delivered a courageous performance against host nation Morocco on Tuesday in Rabat. Despite taking the lead through a brilliant strike by Stella Nyamekye, the Black Queens were unable to hold on, missing several chances to seal the win. A defensive lapse in the second half allowed the Atlas Lionesses to draw level and push the match into a penalty shootout.
Unfortunately for Ghana, spot kicks from Evelyn Badu and Comfort Yeboah were saved, sealing their fate as Morocco advanced to the final.
In the aftermath of the defeat, GFA President Kurt Okraku took to social media to offer words of encouragement, praising the team’s resilience and determination. “We will soon be champions if we build on this!” he wrote on Facebook, highlighting his belief in the team’s upward trajectory.
The 2024 tournament marked Ghana’s return to WAFCON after a seven-year absence. The Black Queens last reached the semi-final stage in 2016, making this year’s performance a significant step forward for the squad.
Ghana will now face South Africa in the third-place playoff on Saturday as they aim to finish the tournament on a high.