2026 WAFCON: Black Queens suffers defeat to Cameroon

Yellow-clad women's soccer team forms a huddle on the field around a coach during a break in a stadium match.

By Jamaldeen Wiayuka August 3, 2026

Ghana’s unbeaten start to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations came to an end after the Black Queens suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in a closely fought Group D encounter on Sunday.

A first-half penalty from Marie Gisele Ngah Manga proved decisive, giving the Indomitable Lionesses all three points and leaving Ghana with everything to play for in their final group-stage match against Mali.

Cameroon were awarded the spot-kick after a lengthy Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review determined that Benedicte Simon had handled the ball inside the penalty area. Manga made no mistake from 12 yards, calmly sending goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan the wrong way to score the only goal of the game.

The Black Queens responded positively and created a number of promising chances before the interval. Doris Boaduwaa came closest to restoring parity, but her close-range effort was brilliantly saved by the Cameroon goalkeeper.

Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren sought a response after the break by introducing Evelyn Badu as Ghana increased the pressure in search of an equaliser. The substitutions injected fresh energy into the attack, with Badu and Portia Boakye both testing the Cameroonian defence.

Ghana believed they had found a way back into the contest when Badu finished from close range in the second half, but celebrations were cut short after another VAR review ruled the goal out for offside.

Despite dominating the closing stages and pushing relentlessly for a leveller, the Black Queens were unable to breach Cameroon’s resolute defence and were forced to accept their first defeat of the tournament.

The result leaves Ghana needing victory against Mali in their final Group D fixture on 6 August to secure a place in the knockout stage of the competition.