The Black Queens of Ghana have secured the bronze medal at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after a dramatic 4–3 penalty shootout victory over defending champions South Africa on Friday, July 25, at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca.
It was a tense rematch between the two sides, who had met earlier in the group stage—where South Africa triumphed 2–0. But this time, Ghana had the final say, avenging that loss with nerves of steel in a shootout after an intense 1–1 draw in regulation time.
South Africa took the lead late in the first half after Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan misjudged a clearance and gifted Banyana Banyana an easy opener. But Ghana rallied in the second half, showing resilience and creativity. The equalizer came in the 67th minute through Alice Kusi, who headed home a brilliant cross from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah. The ball appeared to be parried by the South African goalkeeper, but it had already crossed the line before being cleared.
Ghana had numerous opportunities to seal the game in regulation time, including a heart-stopping moment in stoppage time when Evelyn Badu’s strike rattled the crossbar. It was the third time in the tournament Ghana hit the woodwork.
With neither side able to break the deadlock, the game headed to penalties—a familiar situation for both teams. South Africa had previously beaten Senegal on penalties, while Ghana had experienced both a shootout win and a loss in the tournament.
The victory gives Ghana their second WAFCON bronze in recent history, repeating their 2016 third-place success—also over South Africa. It marks a strong comeback for the Black Queens, who had missed out on the final stages in the last few editions of the tournament.
Head coach Kim Lars praised the team’s character and fighting spirit:
“This team never gave up. After the disappointment of the semifinal, they came back stronger and showed the whole continent what Ghanaian football is about.”
South Africa, meanwhile, miss out on a medal just a year after being crowned champions of the continent.
As the dust settles, Ghana can proudly hold their heads high, having battled through adversity to claim a place on the podium. For South Africa, it’s a bitter pill, but both teams have once again demonstrated the rising quality of women’s football on the African continent.