Ghana is ready to claim its place at the pinnacle of African women’s football, according to Senior Technical Advisor to the Minister of Sports and Recreation Betty Krosbi Mensah, who has tipped the Black Queens to secure gold at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The former Afram Plains North MP and current Chairperson of the Black Queens B Management Committee believes the national side has undergone a transformation that makes them the team to beat when the tournament kicks off in July.
Appearing on Woezor TV’s The Arena, Krosbi Mensah argued that the squad’s recent form—including a bronze-medal finish at the previous edition and a resilient display against European champions England—proves they are no longer just making up the numbers.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently moved the tournament dates to 25 July – 16 August 2026 due to hosting logistics.
While some might see the delay as a disruption, Krosbi Mensah insisted the team’s objective remains resolute.
“The aim for the team is to win gold at the WAFCON,” she said. “Despite CAF pushing the tournament back, the aim remains unchanged.”
She highlighted that the extra preparation time allows head coach Kim Lars Björkegren to further embed a winning culture.
This period is particularly vital as the Black Queens navigate a challenging Group D that features regional rivals Mali, an ascending Cape Verde, and continental giants Cameroon.
For Krosbi Mensah, the mission is two-fold. Beyond the hunt for silverware in Morocco, the tournament serves as the exclusive pathway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The advisor noted that the team’s current trajectory has been designed with global competition in mind.
Recalling a narrow 2-0 friendly defeat to England in Southampton last December, she pointed to that performance as a benchmark for the level the Queens can reach.
“We saw the performance of the team in Morocco last year, and since then, you can see the progression of the team,” she said.
“The Black Queens played against England, and we all saw the performance despite the defeat.”
The Black Queens must finish in the top four this summer to secure automatic qualification for Brazil 2027.
With two additional spots available through inter-confederation play-offs, the pressure is on the technical team to deliver.
Krosbi Mensah’s confidence reflects a wider optimism in Ghana as the Ministry of Sports and the Ghana Football Association continue to ramp up support for the women’s game.
As the countdown to July begins, the message from the Ministry is clear: the Black Queens are going for gold.
