Reigning champions South Africa begin their title defence against Ghana in a high-stakes Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Group C clash on Monday, July 7 at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda, Morocco. Kick-off is at 16:00 GMT.
The encounter renews one of WAFCON’s oldest rivalries and sets the tone for two teams with contrasting recent histories but shared ambition.
For Banyana Banyana, the challenge is clear: prove that their 2022 triumph was no accident. Having finally broken their finals curse in Rabat three years ago, South Africa arrive in Morocco determined to defend their crown and solidify their place among the continent’s elite.
Head coach Dr. Desiree Ellis, a pioneer of South African women’s football, emphasised the need for humility and focus, saying: “We are a contender like any other team… You cannot underestimate any team.”
With experienced players like Refiloe Jane, Jermaine Seoposenwe, and Andile Dlamini leading the charge, Banyana Banyana are expected to come out strong.
On the other hand, Ghana’s Black Queens are returning to the continental stage after missing the last edition.
Their last outing ended in group stage heartbreak on home soil in 2018. Now led by Swedish tactician Kim Björkegren, Ghana hope to make a statement in their comeback.
“We are the dark horses in Group C,” Björkegren declared. “We have the quality to beat all the teams in the group.”
With seasoned campaigners like Portia Boakye and young stars such as Evelyn Badu and Comfort Yeboah in the squad, the Black Queens are aiming to cause an early upset.
History is on their side too: Ghana have beaten South Africa four times in their seven WAFCON meetings and remain the only nation to defeat hosts in an opening fixture – twice.
It’s a classic duel of pedigree versus resurgence.
