Ghana open WAFCON 2026 campaign with convincing victory Over Cape Verde

Ghana made the perfect start to their 2026 CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over tournament debutants Cape Verde in their Group D opener on Wednesday.

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A great start to our WAFCON 2026 campaign.



🇬🇭 2-0 🇨🇻#ShineBlackQueens✨ #MoreThanAble 💪🏾#TotalEnergiesWAFCON26 pic.twitter.com/lliTNrHcfm

— Ghana Women National Teams 🇬🇭 (@GhanaWNT) July 29, 2026

The Black Queens wasted little time asserting their authority, taking the lead just six minutes into the contest through Doris Boaduwaa.

The forward calmly finished from close range after an excellent setup by experienced defender Portia Boakye, giving Ghana an early advantage that set the tone for the remainder of the match.

Ghana continued to dominate possession and control the tempo, limiting Cape Verde's attacking opportunities while creating chances of their own.

Their persistence paid off nine minutes into the second half when defender Eleia Vieira inadvertently turned the ball into her own net under pressure, handing the Black Queens a deserved two-goal cushion.

The victory gives Ghana an ideal start in what promises to be a competitive Group D as they seek to improve on the bronze medal finish they achieved at the previous edition of the continental tournament.

Making their 12th appearance at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, the Black Queens entered the competition with greater tournament experience and a strong record against debutant nations. They once again lived up to that reputation with a disciplined and composed display.

Cape Verde, meanwhile, were making history by playing their first-ever match at the WAFCON finals after an impressive qualification campaign.

Although they struggled to cope with Ghana's quality and experience, the island nation's participation marks a significant milestone for women's football in the country.

The newcomers showed determination despite conceding early, attempting to respond with energetic attacking play. However, Ghana's well-organised defence ensured goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan was rarely troubled throughout the encounter.

The second goal effectively ended Cape Verde's hopes of a comeback as Ghana comfortably managed the closing stages of the game.

Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren introduced fresh legs from the bench, with Alice Kusi, Princella Adubea, Abena Opoku and Evelyn Badu all featuring as the Black Queens maintained control and preserved their clean sheet.

Cape Verde's frustrating afternoon was compounded deep into stoppage time when Klaydiana Borges was shown a straight red card, forcing the tournament debutants to finish the match with 10 players.

The Black Queens return to action on August 2, when they face Cameroon in their second group game.