Black Queens Surrender Two-Goal Lead to Draw 3-3 with Côte d’Ivoire
Ghana’s senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw by Côte d’Ivoire in the first of two friendly matches as part of their preparations for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) scheduled to take place in Morocco this July.
The match, played in Abidjan, saw Ghana relinquish a commanding 3-1 lead, allowing the hosts to mount a second-half comeback and salvage a draw in a thrilling six-goal contest.
Head coach Kim Bjorkegren’s side looked composed and dominant in the early stages. Sherifatu Sumaila opened the scoring in the 18th minute after sustained pressure, giving Ghana a deserved lead. The advantage was doubled shortly before the break when Chantelle Hlorgah netted her first-ever goal for the senior national team in the 41st minute.
However, Côte d’Ivoire responded quickly, halving the deficit just before halftime to keep their hopes alive.
Ghana regained their two-goal cushion early in the second half when an Ivorian defender turned the ball into her own net, making it 3-1 in the 51st minute. But the Ivorians refused to back down, exploiting defensive lapses to score twice in the closing stages and level the game at 3-3.
The friendly forms part of Ghana’s final phase of preparations ahead of the WAFCON, where they are placed in a challenging Group C alongside reigning champions South Africa, Mali, and Tanzania.
The Black Queens will play a second friendly against Côte d’Ivoire in the coming days, as Coach Bjorkegren continues to fine-tune his squad and build cohesion ahead of their tournament opener on July 7 against South Africa.
Despite the draw, the match offered vital lessons and match fitness for the team as they target their first WAFCON title in over two decades.
