Ivory Coast’s women’s national football team produced a spirited performance to draw 3-3 against Ghana in a high-octane friendly match on Friday evening at the Stade Félix-Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan.
Despite trailing for the majority of the game, the Ivorians showed resilience and composure to claw their way back and share the spoils with a Ghanaian side gearing up for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The Black Queens took control early in the match, establishing a two-goal lead before half-time. Sherifatu Sumaila opened the scoring in the 20th minute, followed by a second from Chantelle Hlorkah in the 41st, putting Ghana firmly in the driver’s seat. Ivory Coast, however, struck back moments before the interval, as Ines Konan—who plays for Fleury 91 in France—converted to halve the deficit.
Any hopes of a quick Ivorian comeback were quickly dashed after the break when Nina Kapho inadvertently turned the ball into her own net in the 52nd minute, restoring Ghana’s two-goal cushion. But the setback only ignited the home side’s fighting spirit.
In the 65th minute, Washington Spirit forward Rosemonde Kouassi made her presence felt by narrowing the gap with a clinical finish. Then, in the 80th minute, Konan struck again, completing her brace and levelling the match with a goal that sealed a remarkable comeback.
Although the match was a friendly, both teams approached it with competitive intent. For Ghana, the fixture serves as crucial preparation ahead of their appearance at the upcoming WAFCON tournament in Morocco.
For Ivory Coast, the encounter offered valuable experience as they build towards their own qualifying campaign for the 2026 edition of the continental championship.
Ivory Coast, coached by Reynald Pedros, may not be participating in the 2024 tournament, but the performance against one of the region’s top teams signals a promising future.
The Elephants demonstrated tactical maturity, perseverance, and individual brilliance—key ingredients they will need when they face Senegal later this year in the 2026 WAFCON qualifiers.
The two sides are set to meet again on Tuesday in the second leg of this friendly double-header, once again in Abidjan. Ghana will look to fine-tune their squad ahead of their summer challenge in Morocco, while Ivory Coast will aim to build momentum and continue refining their team under Pedros’ leadership.
Friday’s six-goal spectacle offered a glimpse into the growing competitiveness of women’s football on the continent. While Ghana appeared to have the match under control early on, Ivory Coast’s determined response turned the game into a showcase of resilience and attacking flair.
Konan’s standout performance, marked by her two goals, and Kouassi’s energetic display were highlights for the Ivorians, while Ghana’s early attacking efficiency showed their readiness for the tournament ahead.
As both teams look ahead to their respective campaigns, this pulsating draw stands as a testament to the evolving strength of women’s football in Africa—and a reminder that no lead is ever truly safe in the beautiful game.
