2026 WAFCON: We are going to show up and prove ourselves against Mali - Black Queens midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe
Black Queens midfielder Jennifer Cudjoe has called on Ghana supporters to continue backing the team as they push for qualification to the knockout stage of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Ghana’s senior women’s national team began their campaign in Morocco with a positive start, defeating tournament debutants Cape Verde in their opening Group D match.
However, their progress was slowed after a narrow defeat to Cameroon, leaving their quarter-final qualification hopes to be decided in their final group fixture.
The Black Queens will face Mali on Thursday at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT. Ghana need a victory to guarantee their place in the last eight of the competition.
Despite the setback against Cameroon, Cudjoe remains confident in the team’s ability to respond under pressure and deliver a strong finish to the tournament.
“We want to be the best. We want to get to the World Cup and also get to the final," she told the media on Wednesday.
"It is always good to hear the feedback from the fans. We are going to show up and prove to them that we are here and they should trust us,” Cudjoe added.
A win against Mali would see Ghana advance to the WAFCON quarter-finals and strengthen their hopes of securing a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Black Queens have not featured at the Women’s World Cup since their last appearance in 2007, missing out on the previous four editions of the global tournament.
Reaching the WAFCON semi-finals in Morocco would secure qualification for the World Cup and end Ghana’s long wait for a return to the biggest stage in women’s football.