Ghana’s Black Queens produced a dramatic and hard-fought comeback victory over Côte d’Ivoire, securing a 2-1 win in a high-stakes CAF play-off match held at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, on Thursday, August 13, 2026. The result keeps their hopes of reaching the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil firmly alive after they had earlier been eliminated from contention for automatic qualification.
The match formed part of the pathway linked to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where the four teams eliminated in the quarter-finals competed for the two remaining African spots in the inter-confederation play-offs. Ghana had suffered a disappointing 2-1 quarter-final defeat to tournament surprise package Malawi, ending their run in the continental championship and denying them one of the four direct World Cup berths awarded to the semi-finalists (Cameroon, Malawi, hosts Morocco, and Algeria). Côte d’Ivoire, known as the Lady Elephants, had also exited at the same stage, setting up this decisive play-in encounter.
The Black Queens, under the guidance of head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, started poorly and found themselves behind almost immediately. In the opening minutes, Princess Marfo was adjudged to have fouled Ivorian captain Bernadette Amani (also referred to in reports as Bernadette Kakounan) inside the penalty area. After a lengthy VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot. Inès Konan stepped up and confidently converted the penalty in the fourth minute, sending the ball down the middle to give Côte d’Ivoire a 1-0 lead.
Ghana struggled to settle in the first half as the Ivorians, who had impressed many observers with their bright, front-foot style throughout the tournament, created the more dangerous opportunities. The Black Queens’ task grew harder when talismanic player Doris Boaduwaa was forced off through injury in first-half stoppage time. Other injury concerns later affected Evelyn Badu and Susan Ama Duah, who was stretchered off late in the contest.
Early in the second half, Ghana thought they had equalised when Stella Nyamekye bundled or fired the ball into an empty net after goalkeeper Océane Lamfir had flapped at a cross and Evelyn Badu had squared the loose ball. However, another VAR review ruled the goal out, determining that the goalkeeper had been fouled or still retained control of the ball in the build-up. Rather than letting the setback demoralise them, the Black Queens continued to press forward with greater determination.
Their persistence paid off in the 59th minute. From a corner delivered by Nyamekye, Princess Marfo rose highest, powering a superb header beyond Lamfir to level the score at 1-1. The equaliser completely shifted the momentum, restoring confidence to the Ghanaian side and putting the Ivorians under sustained pressure.
Thirteen minutes later, the comeback was completed. Grace Asantewaa unleashed a ferocious shot that struck the arm of Côte d’Ivoire defender Aboa Yapo inside the box. After yet another lengthy VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty. Josephine Bonsu (also referred to as Josephine Bonsu-Kyerewaa) stepped up calmly and slotted the spot-kick home, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to put Ghana 2-1 ahead in the 72nd minute.
Côte d’Ivoire threw players forward in search of a late equaliser and applied sustained pressure in the closing stages, but the Black Queens defended resolutely and with discipline, protecting their slender advantage until the final whistle. The victory was met with massive celebrations among the Ghanaian players and supporters, marking a memorable response after their earlier disappointment in the WAFCON quarter-finals.
This result earns Ghana one of Africa’s two places in the 10-team inter-confederation play-offs for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Those play-offs will take place across two international windows between November 2026 and February 2027, structured as mini-tournaments, with the three winners securing the final berths at the tournament in Brazil. Nigeria was scheduled to face South Africa in the other African play-in match later the same day for the remaining continental spot.