Ghana’s Black Queens

Ghana’s Black Queens are the second most successful African women’s team behind Nigeria.

They have qualified for nine of the 10 African Women’s Championships, and although they have never won the title, they have an enviable record in Africa and in the world.

They have finished as runners-up on three occasions, and as bronze medallists three times, while they have also qualified for the Women’s World Cup on three occasions.

The Black Queens made their debut at the African Women Championships in 1995 when they lost 5-0 on aggregate to eventual winners Nigeria in home and away semifinals.

In 1998 Ghana went one better and reached the final after beating DR Congo 4-1 after extra time, but Nigeria emerged as champions with a 2-0 victory in there final. As the runners-up, though, Ghana qualified for the 1999 Women’s World Cup in the United States, where they obtained one point in three matches after a 1-1 draw against Australia.

In 2000, Ghana finished third overall after beating Zimbabwe 6-3 in the bronze medal playoff.

In the semifinals Ghana lost narrowly 1-0 to South Africa, while in the group stages they drew 2-all against eventual champions Nigeria.

In 2002, Ghana were firm favourites for the title when they won all their group matches, including a 1-0 win against Nigeria.

In the semifinals, they beat Cameroon 3-2 after extra time but in the final they once again came up against Nigeria, who took revenge with a 2-0 victory. As the runners-up, Ghana, though qualified of the 2003 Women’s World Cup in the United States, where they registered their first victory with a 2-1 win against Australia.

In 2004, Ghana finished on top of their group after winning all their group matches, but their progress was halted in the semifinals when they lost 1-0 to Cameroon after extra time.

In 2006, Ghana once again started strongly winning all their group matches, and then beating South Africa 1-0 in the semifinals after an 88th minute penalty by Florence Okoe.

In the final they however once again came up against their nemesis Nigeria, who once again emerged victorious by a narrow 1-0 margin.

As the runners-up, Ghana qualified for the 2007 Women’s World Cup in China, where they lost all their matches.

Since 2008, however, Ghana’s performances have deteriorated and they failed to reach the knockout stages in the subsequent three championships.

In 2008, they finished third in their group, behind South Africa and Nigeria, after beating Tunisia 3-2, drawing 1-1 against Nigeria and losing 1-0 to South Africa.

In 2010, Ghana once again finished third in their group behind Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon, after beating Algeria 2-1 and losing 2-1 to Cameroon and 3-1 to Equatorial Guinea.

In 2012, the Black Queens reached a new low, as they failed to qualify for the finals for the first time, after losing 2-1 on aggregate to Cameroon in the first round qualifiers.

This year, Ghana comfortably qualified for the finals after beating Burkina Faso 6-0 and Ethiopia 5-0 on aggregate in the first and second round qualifiers.

Ghana also comfortably beat Namibia in two friendly matches on 21 March and 12 April.

They won the first encounter 3-1 through two goals by Samira Suleman and one by Agnes Aduako, and the second encounter 3-0 through a brace by Portia Boakye and another goal by Aduako.

Ghana is currently ranked second in Africa and 50 in the world.

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