WAFCON 2024: Ghana Defeat South Africa on Penalties to Secure Bronze.

Ghana’s Black Queens clinched third place at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a tense 4-3 win on penalties against South Africa at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Friday evening. The match had ended 1-1 in regulation time.

This bronze medal showdown was a rematch of the group stage, where South Africa had beaten Ghana 2-0. However, this time the Black Queens got their revenge in a tightly contested battle that was ultimately decided by a shootout.

South Africa took the lead just before halftime with a 45th-minute goal from Nonhlanhla Mthandi. Ghana drew level in the 68th minute when South African goalkeeper Andile Dlamini inadvertently scored an own goal.

With no additional goals after full time, the game went straight to penalties. Ghana successfully converted four out of five attempts, with A. Kusi, J. Bonsu, J. Cudjoe, and N. Amoh all finding the net. C. Boye-Hlorkah missed her shot.

South Africa managed three successful penalties through L. Motlhalo, B. Mbane, and J. Seoposenwe, but misses by S. Holweni and H. Magaia proved costly, handing the win to Ghana.

This victory mirrors the 2016 WAFCON third-place match in Yaoundé, where Ghana also defeated South Africa, that time by a 1-0 scoreline.