Ghana midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe has urged supporters to continue backing the Black Queens as they attempt to secure a place in the knockout stage of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Ghana’s hopes of progressing early were frustrated by a 1-0 defeat by Cameroon on Sunday. Marie Gisele Ngah Manga scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the first half to give the Indomitable Lionesses a crucial victory.
The Black Queens pushed for an equaliser after the break and appeared to have levelled through Badu. However, the effort was disallowed for offside, leaving Ghana without a point from the match.
Despite that setback, Cudjoe says the squad remains determined to respond positively and believes Ghana have the ability to recover in their final group game.
“We want to be the best. We want to get to the World Cup and also get to the final. It is always good to hear the feedback from the fans. We are going to show up and prove to them that we are here and they should trust us,” Cudjoe said.
The Black Queens had made a winning start to their WAFCON campaign by beating Cape Verde, but the loss to Cameroon has left their hopes of qualification in the balance.
Ghana now need to defeat Mali on 6 August to guarantee their place in the quarter-finals. The result will be decisive for a team whose wider ambitions include reaching the final of the competition and qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Cudjoe remains confident that Ghana can handle the pressure of the occasion. She believes the squad has the quality, determination and fighting spirit required to keep their tournament challenge alive.
A victory over Mali would take the Black Queens into the next stage and provide a significant boost to their hopes of securing a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The defeat by Cameroon followed a closely contested match in which Ghana were unable to convert their second-half pressure into a goal. Badu’s disallowed effort proved particularly costly as the Black Queens searched for a share of the points.
With qualification now depending on their final group match, Ghana must produce a response against Mali. The players are relying on their unity, hard work and the support of their fans as they seek to recover from the disappointment and continue their pursuit of continental success.
Cudjoe’s message reflects the team’s belief that the Cameroon result has not defined their campaign. The Black Queens remain focused on proving their ability on the pitch, starting with the match against Mali, where victory would secure progress to the quarter-finals and maintain their hopes of competing at the next FIFA Women’s World Cup.
