2024 WAFCON: Ghana still in contention after South Africa draw with Tanzania

Black Queens remain in contention for a place in the knockout stage of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after Tanzania held defending champions South Africa to a 1-1 draw in their second Group C match on Saturday.

The result leaves Group C wide open heading into the final round of fixtures. South Africa and Mali now top the group with four points each, while Ghana and Tanzania sit on one point apiece after two matches.

For Ghana, the draw offers a lifeline after Friday’s 1-1 stalemate with Mali. The Black Queens had taken an early lead through Alice Kusi but failed to hold on, allowing Mali to equalise and claim a point. That followed their opening 2-0 defeat to South Africa.

Tanzania, meanwhile, shocked Banyana Banyana in the 24th minute when Opah Clement headed in from a set-piece to give the East Africans a surprise lead. South Africa piled on the pressure, and their persistence paid off in the 70th minute when Bambanani Mbane converted a Lebohang Ramalepe cross to make it 1-1.

A late red card to Tanzania’s Elizabeth Chenge added to the drama, but the Taifa Queens held firm to secure a vital point—keeping Ghana’s hopes alive in the process.

The Black Queens now face a must-win clash against Tanzania on Monday. Victory could take Ghana into the quarter-finals, depending on the outcome of the South Africa-Mali encounter.