Ghana’s senior women’s national football team, the Black Queens, were met with cheers, dancing, and national pride at Kotoka International Airport on Monday morning, following their historic third-place finish at the 2024 African Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The Queens clinched bronze after a tense 4-3 penalty shootout win over South Africa in the third-place playoff on Saturday. The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, before the Ghanaian side kept their composure to edge past Banyana Banyana.
It’s the team’s first medal at the continental tournament since 2016, marking a significant turning point in what has been a challenging rebuilding phase for women’s football in Ghana.
From as early as 4:00 am, hundreds of fans draped in red, gold, and green gathered at the arrival hall of Terminal 3, singing and waving flags as the team touched down. Some carried hand-drawn posters of their favourite players; others simply came to say thank you.
“This moment means everything,” said Maame Akua, a fan who travelled from Kumasi to witness the arrival. “The Queens have made us proud again. We have waited so long for this.”
The Ghana Football Association (GFA), representatives from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and former national players were also present to receive the team, commending them for what many are calling a “resilient and unifying performance.”
Under the leadership of Danish coach Kim Lars, the Black Queens have undergone a steady transformation in recent years. After missing out on the 2022 tournament, the team returned with renewed spirit and discipline, making a strong statement in Morocco this year.
The third-place finish also reignites conversations around investment in women’s football, particularly as calls grow louder for equal support and infrastructure.
For many Ghanaians, this moment was about more than sport, it was about national pride, resurgence, and recognition for a team that has long played in the shadows of their male counterparts.
