Ghana’s Black Queens must beat Mali to guarantee their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe warning that the decisive Group D match will be a different challenge from their previous meeting.
Cudjoe accepts that Mali will provide a difficult test, but says Ghana are ready to respond with confidence and determination after their narrow defeat by Cameroon.
The Black Queens were beaten 1-0 by Cameroon in their last fixture, with Marie Gisele Ngah Manga converting a first-half penalty. Ghana appeared to have found an equaliser in the second half, but Badu’s goal was ruled out for offside.
That result was a setback after Ghana began their campaign with victory over Cape Verde. The team now need a positive result against Mali to keep their hopes of progressing in the competition alive.
Cudjoe believes the squad has taken lessons from the Cameroon defeat and is focused on producing a stronger display in their next match. Although Ghana are familiar with their opponents, having faced Mali last year, she says past encounters will not determine the outcome this time.
“We’ve played them before; they are a good team. We played them last year. We will approach it how we are approaching it, making sure we do what is right. It is not going to be the same as last year,” Cudjoe said.
The midfielder identified preparation, discipline and collective effort as important factors in Ghana’s attempt to overcome Mali. She also expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to handle the pressure of a match carrying major consequences for their tournament.
Victory would confirm Ghana’s place in the last eight and preserve their hopes of challenging for continental honours. It would also keep the Black Queens’ ambition of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup on course.
The match therefore represents more than an opportunity to recover from the Cameroon loss. Ghana must deliver when the pressure is highest if they are to continue their WAFCON campaign and demonstrate their ambition to establish themselves among Africa’s leading women’s football nations.
Cudjoe’s message is that the Black Queens have moved on from the disappointment of their previous result. Their focus is now on Mali, a team they know well but expect to approach with a different style and mindset from last year’s contest.
With a quarter-final place available, Ghana will be aiming to turn their opening victory over Cape Verde into a successful group-stage campaign. A win would provide the response they want after Cameroon and ensure the Black Queens remain in contention for both the WAFCON title and a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
