Black Queens reach first Nations Cup in five years despite defeat to Namibia

The Black Queens have qualified for the Women’s African Cup of Nations for the first time since 2018 despite losing one nil to Namibia in the last-round qualifier earlier today in South Africa.

Nora Hauptle’s side qualified for the tournament in Morocco next year, 3-2 on aggregate after winning the first leg 3-1 in Accra.  Ghana joins the defending champions South Africa and Algeria as the team to book their places in the tournament.

However, the defeat marks Nora Hauptle’s first loss as the head coach of the Black Queens and only the second time her team has conceded a goal under her leadership.

The Swiss woman Hauptle made two changes to the starting team in the first leg as Stella Nyamekye and Ernestina Abambila replaced Alice Kusi and Evelyn Badu.

Namibia scored the opening goal after 21 minutes from a setpiece and looked the better side in the entire game.

However, the Black Queens held on to the pressure with goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan being forced into some decent saves in the second period of the encounter.

Coach Nora Hauptle in tears after qualifying the Black Queens to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Morocco after 5years in the wilderness. pic.twitter.com/lxmCnU94Zp

— Andydotcom (@Andydotcom_gh) December 5, 2023

“We qualified, Ghana is back in WAFCON and we are hungry and willing to play there.”- Nora Hauptle said after the game.

“And I think a lot of players deserve it.” “They have played for a very long time for the team or maybe for some.”

“We have some young players, for them It’s the first time.”

“In general, we have a very young squad, who need to develop and work and continue our mission,”

“I’m proud of this year, we won 10 games out of 11 and I think we can have a nice Christmas”- She added.

Story By: Princeton Wiredu