Cameroon hands Ghana first WAFCON defeat, putting Black Queens under qualification pressure

Ghana’s Black Queens have suffered their first setback at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), losing 1-0 to Cameroon in a result that significantly raises the stakes ahead of their decisive final Group C fixture.

A first-half penalty proved the difference after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review awarded Cameroon a spot-kick, which was calmly converted to secure all three points for the Indomitable Lionesses.

The defeat halts Ghana’s early momentum in the tournament and leaves the Black Queens with little margin for error as they seek a place in the knockout rounds.

Despite dominating possession for long periods in the second half, Ghana struggled to break down a disciplined Cameroonian defence. The Black Queens pushed aggressively for an equaliser, with the technical bench introducing fresh attacking options, but a combination of missed opportunities and resolute defending denied them a breakthrough.

An apparent Ghana equaliser was ruled out for offside, while several late attempts failed to alter the outcome, leaving Cameroon to celebrate a crucial victory in one of the tournament’s most closely contested group matches.

The result reshapes the complexion of Group C, with Ghana now facing a must-win encounter in their final group game to keep their WAFCON ambitions alive. For Cameroon, the victory strengthens their position in the race for a quarter-final berth and underlines their credentials as one of the tournament’s leading contenders.

As the group stage enters its decisive phase, the Black Queens will need a composed response to revive their campaign, while Cameroon will look to build on the momentum from a hard-fought victory that could prove pivotal in the battle for qualification.