Ghana clinched third place at WAFCON 2024 after defeating South Africa 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in regular time. The match, held at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, was a rematch of the 2016 bronze medal game, which also saw the Black Queens emerge victorious.

The game was full of tension, though the stats showed Ghana had the upper hand in attack, recording 16 shots compared to 7 from their rivals. Both teams had 3 shots on target, while possession favored South Africa with 57% to Ghana's 43%.

Ghana defeated South Africa on penalties and takes third place in the tournament

Nonhlanhla Mthandi opened the scoring in the 45th minute, putting the Banyana Banyana ahead just before halftime. However, Ghana responded in the second half, equalizing in the 68th minute thanks to an unfortunate own goal by goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.

With the draw unresolved after 90 minutes, the match went to penalties. The Black Queens were more accurate from the spot, winning 4-3 and securing a podium finish in a tournament where they emerged as one of the biggest surprises.

Under the guidance of Swedish coach Kim Björkegren, Ghana showed remarkable progress since the group stage. After missing the previous edition of the tournament, the Black Queens made a deep run and ended their campaign on a high note.

On the other hand, South Africa, the reigning champions, failed to defend their title or reach the final, ending the competition in disappointment. Head coach Desiree Ellis had previously stressed the importance of going home with a medal, but her team couldn’t deliver in the decisive match.

With this result, Ghana secures its second-ever third-place finish at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, while South Africa misses out on the podium after lifting the trophy in 2022. The rivalry between the two nations intensifies once again, with the head-to-head record now tipping slightly in favor of the Black Queens.