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2026 WAFCON: Black Queens not under pressure to impress after third-place finish - Kurt Okraku

GFA President Kurt Okraku Kurt Okraku is the Ghana Football Association President

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku has downplayed expectations ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), insisting the Black Queens are entering the tournament without undue pressure.

Drawn into a tough Group D alongside Cameroon, Mali, and Cape Verde, Ghana will lean on the confidence gained from their third-place finish at the 2024 WAFCON in Morocco.

That campaign saw the Queens defeat South Africa to claim bronze, signalling a strong return to prominence on the continent.

"I think that if it's about pressure, there's pressure everywhere. There's pressure in eating, pressure in laughing, pressure in having a conversation, and there's pressure in sports," Okraku told reporters after the draw.

"Football is an emotive enterprise, but what's most important is how you react, how you act, and how you handle such situations."

Beyond seeking continental glory, the tournament offers a route back to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, with semi-finalists securing automatic qualification - a feat Ghana has not achieved since 2007.

Having reached the semis last time, the Queens will be eager to go one step further in 2026.

The WAFCON runs from March 17 to April 3, promising intense competition and high-quality football across Morocco.

Source: ghanasoccernet.com