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The Black Queens of Ghana will begin their quest for a maiden Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title when they face tournament debutants Cape Verde in their Group D opener of the 2026 WAFCON on Wednesday, July 29, at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Morocco at 5:00 p.m.
The encounter marks the start of another chapter for Ghana, who enter the expanded 16-team competition carrying renewed optimism after finishing third at the previous edition also held in Morocco. A positive opening result would immediately strengthen their hopes of progressing from a competitive group.
Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren’s side heads into the tournament in encouraging form after completing an unbeaten pre-WAFCON preparation campaign. The Black Queens secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Ivory Coast before playing out a goalless draw with Tanzania, then rounded off their preparations with an emphatic 4-0 win over Malawi.
That convincing victory over Malawi looked even more impressive after the Southern Africans stunned defending champions Nigeria 3-2 in their maiden WAFCON match, underlining how quickly fortunes can change at continental tournaments and serving as a reminder against underestimating newcomers.
Ghana’s confidence has also been reflected within the squad. Forward Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah insisted during the team’s pre-match press conference that the players are “fully prepared” for the challenge ahead and are eager to make a strong start to their campaign.
Ghana Looking to Build on Positive Momentum
The Black Queens return to Morocco with fond memories after claiming bronze at the last WAFCON. Ghana narrowly missed out on a place in the final following a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to hosts Morocco in the semi-finals before defeating South Africa in the third-place playoff.
That campaign restored belief in the national team after years of inconsistency and re-established Ghana among Africa’s leading women’s football nations. With several experienced players complemented by emerging talents, expectations are naturally higher this time around.
The expanded 16-team format also presents fresh opportunities, but it leaves little room for slow starts.
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Winning the opening fixture could ease the pressure ahead of more demanding group matches and provide the momentum needed for a deep run in the tournament.
Debutants Cape Verde Out to Spring Another Surprise
Cape Verde may be making their first WAFCON appearance, but they have already shown they are capable of upsetting more established opponents. Their qualification remains one of the stories of the tournament after overturning a first-leg deficit against Mali.
Following a 1-0 home defeat, they produced a remarkable 4-2 away victory to seal qualification 4-3 on aggregate and book their historic place in Morocco.
Ironically, Mali also qualified for the tournament after CAF expanded the it from 12 to 16 teams, reaching the finals as one of the highest-ranked additional sides.
Despite that memorable qualification triumph, Cape Verde’s recent form has been less convincing. They have managed just one win in their last six matches, alongside one draw and four defeats. Their most recent outing ended in a heavy 5-0 loss to hosts Morocco after also facing Ivory Coast twice in friendly matches.
While those results suggest Ghana enter the contest as favourites, recent events at the tournament offer a cautionary lesson. Malawi’s surprising victory over the Super Falcons of Nigeria demonstrated that debutants can compete fearlessly on the biggest stage, particularly when burdened by little expectation.
For Ghana, that should reinforce the need for focus rather than complacency. The Black Queens possess greater tournament experience and arguably the stronger squad, but continental competitions are often decided by discipline, efficiency and composure rather than reputation alone.
If Ghana reproduce the intensity and attacking quality displayed during their final warm-up victory over Malawi, they should have enough to begin their campaign with three points.
However, Cape Verde’s remarkable qualifying journey proves they thrive when written off. The Black Queens must therefore match their quality with concentration from the opening whistle as they seek the perfect start to what they hope will be a historic march toward their first WAFCON crown.
