Black Queens midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe has described Ghana’s dramatic semi-final lost in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as a painful blow, saying the team “gave everything” but fell short on penalties.
Ghana looked poised for a historic final appearance after Stella Nyamekye’s first-half strike gave them a 1-0 lead over host nation Morocco. But a second-half equaliser from Sakina Ouzraoui Diki pushed the match into extra time.
After 120 minutes of pulsating football, the tie was decided by spot-kicks, with Morocco triumphing 4-2 in the penalty shootout. Ghana’s Evelyn Badu and Comfort Yeboah were the unfortunate players to miss their penalties, sending the Atlas Lionesses into Saturday’s final against Nigeria.
Speaking after the match, a visibly emotional Jennifer Cudjoe said the team left it all on the pitch.
“It’s really hard luck today, I have to say. This one actually hurt,” Cudjoe told reporters. “I feel like we gave everything. We wanted to win, we did everything that was asked of us, and it just hurts because I feel like we deserved to be in the final.”
Despite the heartbreak, Cudjoe said the squad remained proud of their performance throughout the tournament.
“I’m just proud of the team because we didn’t give up. We proved to everyone that we can do something, and hopefully in our next game we can get a medal.”
The Black Queens, who have not reached the final since 2006, will now regroup for their bronze medal match against defending champions South Africa on Friday, July 25 in Casablanca.
While Ghana’s dream of continental glory may have ended in Rabat, the team’s spirited showing has reignited hope and belief in the future of women’s football in the country.
