Ghana’s Black Queens are confident they can handle the demands of their decisive TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Group C match against Mali, with deputy captain Jennifer Cudjoe insisting the team is targeting victory rather than relying on a draw.
The Black Queens know a win on Thursday will guarantee their place in the quarter-finals. A draw could also be enough to take Ghana through, depending on the outcome of the other match in the group, but Cudjoe says the squad will not approach the game with that possibility in mind.
“I’m excited and I’m looking forward to it. I’m ready and everybody is ready. I just hope that we show up and do what we have to do,” Cudjoe said.
The midfielder, who plays her club football abroad, said Ghana’s players were focused on performing rather than being overwhelmed by the significance of the fixture.
“Pressure is a privilege and I think as a player, we’ve been in a different stage in our career. We’ve been in this place before, so I don’t think there’s a lot of pressure. But we know what we have to do and we’re going to show up on Thursday and give everything we can.”
Ghana are aware that Mali will provide a difficult test. The sides have a history of competitive meetings, and Cudjoe acknowledged that the Black Queens will need to produce one of their best performances to secure the result they want.
“We know that we need to win. That’s what we’re going for so I don’t think there’s too much pressure. But we know that it’s not going to be an easy game as well.”
The match comes with expectations from supporters who have followed Ghana’s progress over recent years. Cudjoe said the squad understood the level of scrutiny surrounding the team and appreciated the ambition of their fans.
“I mean we hear all Ghanaians, we know they love us, we know they expect a lot from us. They’ve watched us from last year and years before and they know what we can do. So of course now seeing what we can do, it’s obviously a lot.”
The Black Queens are also conscious of the discussions taking place online and in the media. While those opinions are being heard, Cudjoe said they would not be allowed to distract the players from their preparations.
“We see everything that they’re asking for, they’re talking about, but I don’t think we’re going to let it affect us that much. But also we hear them. We want them to know we hear them because we want to be the best.”
Cudjoe’s ambitions extend beyond progressing from the group stage at this year’s tournament. She said Ghana’s goals include reaching the World Cup and going all the way to the WAFCON final, while asking supporters to remain patient as the team develops.
“We want to go to the World Cup, that’s my goal, and also definitely get to the final. So, it’s always good to hear the feedback from the fans, but also we’re going to show up and we’re going to prove to them that hey we’re here. It’s just a process. They should trust us.”
Ghana face Mali on Thursday, 6 August, in the final round of Group C matches at the ongoing 2026 WAFCON.
