WAFCON 2024: Black Queens “nudge” knock out stage chances as they share spoils with Mali

locking hornd against Mali at the Berkane Municipal Stadium on Friday, July 11 2025.

The Black Queens opened the scoring on the 7th minute when Doris Boaduwaa squared off a cross from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah after Mali goalkeeper failed to deal with the out swinging ball from the right side of the field.

Ghana retained their dominance of the game, keeping the lead till the end of the first half but the Malians gradually grew in confidence in the second half with some breathtaking incursions and inter-positional exchanges.

Mali’s effort paid off with an equalizer from Aissata Traoré in the 52nd minute to further dent Ghana’s chances of a spot in the quarterfinals.

The Malians took control of the game from then on, controlling a huge portion of the possession on the field. The game ended in 1-1 giving Mali four points to top group C with South Africa on three points with their second game against Tanzania. A win for the Banyana Banyana will take them to the top of the table on six points.

Mali will take on South Africa in the last Group C game and Ghana’s final group game is against Tanzania on Monday, July 14. The Black Queens now have one point from two games with Tanzania seated bottom without a point from two games. Mali sit at the top of the group on four points pending the result of Friday's later game between South Africa and Tanzania.