Ghana’s Black Queens defeated South Africa and won the bronze medal at the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Casablanca on Friday night after remaining composed in a thrilling penalty shootout.
Ghana won 4-3 in the shootout at Stade Larbi Zaouli, securing third place in a dramatic and passionate match after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
A spectacular match between two great adversaries, whose history at WAFCON is replete with hotly contested clashes, came to a fitting conclusion.
In addition to making up for their 2-0 group stage loss to South Africa, Ghana’s victory replicated their bronze medal victory over Banyana Banyana in 2016.
Nonhlanhla Mthandi opened the scoring in the 45th minute, giving South Africa the lead. The defending champions had a strong first half, which was highlighted by her crisp right-footed goal from outside the area.
After the interval, however, Ghana redoubled their efforts and were rewarded with a well-earned, if fortunate, equalizer in the 68th minute. Due to a defensive blunder, goalie Andile Dlamini was given credit for an own goal after deflecting Alice Kusi’s blocked header into her own net.
Late in regulation, there were chances for both teams to claim a victory. Linda Motlhalo of South Africa had just minutes before forced a hard save from Cynthia Konlan, while Evelyn Badu of Ghana had struck the crossbar well into stoppage time.
With the match going to penalties, the deadlock remained intact.
As Ghana’s heroine, Konlan turned the shootout in her team’s favor by blocking important spot kicks from Sibulele Holweni and Hildah Magaia.
The Black Queens rallied with calm conversions from Alice Kusi, Josephine Bonsu, Jennifer Cudjoe, and Nancy Amoh, despite Dlamini saving Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah’s early penalty.
Motlhalo and Jermaine Seoposenwe both scored goals for South Africa, but the reigning champions lost in the end and were eliminated from the tournament without a medal.
Kim Björkegren’s Black Queens, who entered the competition as underdogs but left with concrete evidence of their comeback on the continental scene, had a strong finish.
Source: newsthemegh.com