Ghana edged Senegal 1-0 in an international women’s friendly on Saturday evening, with Evelyn Badu’s first-half header proving decisive in a tightly contested fixture played in Thiès.
Despite enjoying a numerical advantage for much of the second half, the Lionesses of Teranga were unable to capitalise, falling to a second consecutive defeat in a high-level test following October’s 7-1 thrashing by Morocco.
The latest result underlines the work that remains for head coach Mame Moussa Cissé as he continues to measure his side against the continent’s strongest opponents ahead of the upcoming Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.
Ghana, ranked fifth in Africa by FIFA, brought intensity and technical precision to the contest. After a cagey start, the visitors gradually imposed their rhythm, exploiting gaps in the Senegalese defence and demonstrating superior composure on the ball.
The Black Queens took the lead in the 24th minute when Princess Dankwa Marfo delivered a pinpoint cross from the left, which was met powerfully by Badu, whose header left Senegalese goalkeeper Tenning Sene with no chance.
Senegal had shown promise in the early minutes through Nguénar Ndiaye, who delivered a teasing cross just three minutes into the match.
Her influence remained a bright spot throughout the encounter. In the 20th minute, Ndiaye’s powerful shot forced a reaction from the Ghanaian defence, and a minute later, Mama Diop had a chance to level but failed to make an impact.
However, Ghana quickly tightened their grip on the game. Princess Marfo caused consistent problems for Senegal’s backline, particularly targeting the right side where Adama Sané and Meta Camara struggled to contain her.
The Senegalese defence, featuring a reshuffled starting lineup that included Aissatou Fall at centre-back and Pascaline Fofana Bassène leading the line in attack, lacked cohesion.
The absence of key players such as Mbayang Sow, Safietou Sagna, Hapsatou Malado Diallo and Ndeye Awa Diakhaté further disrupted the Lionesses’ fluency and attacking edge.
In the second half, Senegal appeared more composed but continued to struggle in the final third. Even after Ghana were reduced to 10 players following the 63rd-minute sending-off of Anasthesia Achiaa, the hosts could not find a breakthrough.
Instead, it was Ghana who came closest to scoring again, with Doris Boaduwaa rattling the crossbar with a thunderous effort in the 68th minute.
Nguénar Ndiaye, undoubtedly Senegal’s most active player on the night, attempted to spark a late comeback.
Deep into stoppage time, she launched an audacious 45-metre shot that clipped the crossbar, agonisingly close to earning her side a draw.
The match was another stern examination for Senegal, who are aiming to establish themselves as a force in African women’s football.
The absence of several senior players offered opportunities to others, but the team’s performance highlighted ongoing issues in execution and consistency under pressure.
Coach Cissé will have a second opportunity to assess his squad when the two sides meet again on Tuesday. A positive result in the rematch will be vital for morale and progression, especially with the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on the horizon.
For now, Ghana’s clinical display and Badu’s decisive contribution ensure the Black Queens head into the next fixture with momentum firmly on their side.
