Black Queens suffered their first defeat of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, going down 1–0 to Cameroon in a fiercely contested Group D encounter at the Moulay Rachid Stadium.
Despite dominating large spells of the contest and creating the better opportunities, the Black Queens were left frustrated as the Indomitable Lionesses made the most of their one clear opening to secure all three points.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute, and it followed a lengthy Video Assistant Referee review. Officials adjudged that Ghana defender Benedicte Simon had handled the ball inside her own penalty area, and the referee duly pointed to the spot.
Marie Ngah Manga, Cameroon’s leading marksman at the tournament, stepped up and calmly rolled her effort past goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan to hand her side an early advantage.
Ghana responded well and pushed for an equaliser for the remainder of the half, with Doris Boaduwaa forcing a smart save from the Cameroonian goalkeeper as the Black Queens threatened to draw level before the interval.
Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren turned to his bench after the restart, introducing Evelyn Badu in search of fresh impetus.
The change added urgency to Ghana’s attack, with Badu and Portia Boakye both causing problems for the Cameroonian defence as the Black Queens controlled possession and pinned their opponents back for long spells.
Ghana thought they had found the equaliser they craved in the 77th minute, when a mix-up in the Cameroon defence allowed Boaduwaa to pounce on a goalkeeping error before the loose ball fell to Badu, who converted.
The celebrations were short-lived, however, as a VAR review flagged an offside in the build-up and the goal was chalked off, a decisive moment that summed up Ghana’s afternoon.
The Black Queens continued to press until the final whistle but could not find a way past a resolute Cameroon backline, and the Indomitable Lionesses held on for a hard-fought victory.
The result means the win confirmed Cameroon as Group D winners and the first side to secure a place in the quarter-finals, moving them onto six points from two matches. For Ghana, the defeat ends their unbeaten start to the tournament, which began with a 2–0 opening win over Cape Verde. The Black Queens remain on three points and now face a must-win, or must-draw, finale against Mali to keep their knockout hopes alive.
Ghana’s Black Queens face Mali in their final Group D fixture on Thursday, August 6, in Casablanca. Victory would guarantee progress to the knockout stage, while a draw may also be sufficient depending on Ghana’s superior goal difference in the group.