Black Queens qualify for WAFCON 2024 despite second leg defeat to Namibia
The Black Queens will make a return to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in five years following their aggregate win over Namibia.
Ghana suffered a 1-0 defeat in the second leg of their fixture against Namibia in Pretoria on Tuesday, December 5, but a 3-1 win in the first meeting was enough for them to book a slot.
The loss also marked Nora Hauptle’s first defeat as head coach of the senior women’s national team after 11 games in charge.
Nora Hauptle loses first her first game as Black Queens boss but she wouldn’t mind what’s broken as Ghana secured qualification to the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Ghana win 3-2 on aggregate against Namibia. pic.twitter.com/AruW1g039J— Lawrence Baidoo (@kweku_lawrence) December 5, 2023
The Swiss trainer made two changes to the starting team in the first leg as Stella Nyamekye and Ernestina Abambila were given the nod ahead of Alice Kusi and Evelyn Badu.
Namibia scored the opening goal after 21 minutes from a setpiece and looked the better side in the entire game.
The Black Queens will be making a return to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2018.The qualification meant a lot to Nora Hauptle and captain Portia Boakye as they couldn’t hold back their tears. Congratulations again @GhanaWNT pic.twitter.com/JyttGpirRL— Lawrence Baidoo (@kweku_lawrence) December 5, 2023
However, the Queens managed the game well with goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan being forced into some decent saves in the second period of the encounter.
In the end, it was tears for Namibia despite the win on the day but Ghana had the last laugh winning on aggregate and sealing a spot to Morocco.
The Queens will play in the continental showpiece for the first time since it was hosted in Ghana in 2018.
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