Wasteful Ghana were left to rue missed chances as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Mali in their Group C fixture at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) on Friday, leaving their passage to the next stage in some doubt.
Alice Kusi gave Ghana the early advantage in the West African derby at the Stade Municipal de Berkane, but after they missed numerous chances to extend their lead, Mali equalised through Aissata Traore with a rare foray forward.
Ghana have a single point from their first two pool matches and must beat Tanzania in their final Group C game on Monday to stand a chance of earning a quarterfinal place.
It's a point a piece for Ghana and Mali in Group C 🤝#HereForHer | #WAFCON2024 pic.twitter.com/DTZTRsNGXf
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) July 11, 2025
Mali have four points from their two matches and look on course to qualify, at the very least as one of the two best third-placed sides across the three groups. They face defending champions South Africa in their final pool game.
Ghana took an early lead on six minutes in about as scrappy a fashion as you can imagine.
A header was blocked on the line, and as the loose ball bounced at the back post, Alice Kusi went to kick the ball over the line but missed. Luckily for her, her momentum bundled the ball into the back of the net.
Evelyn Badu should have doubled the advantage 10 minutes before halftime when she had a free header at the back post and seemed destined to score, only to steer her effort just wide of the post.
Badu then had an effort cleared off the line from a goalmouth scramble as she again spurned the opportunity to give Ghana a 2-0 lead.
It took Mali 52 minutes to have a shot on target and they made it count, equalising the score.
Traore raced onto a through-ball from namesake Saratou Traore and was too strong for her defender, providing a one-on-one chance that she buried past Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan.
How Aissata Traore celebrated after pulling Mali back in the game! 😍#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 pic.twitter.com/g0SFLCE4Mw
— CAF Women’s Football (@CAFwomen) July 11, 2025
Princess Marfon had a chance at the back post for Ghana in the final five minutes but could not connect.
Ghana are now winless in their last four Wafcon matches (D2 L2) and have failed to win their second group game in the last four editions (D3 L1).
The draw ends a three-game winning run for Mali in group play, but they will no doubt view it as a good one.
Ghana had 60 per cent possession and created 18 shots in the game to just four from Mali. The only shot Mali fired on target was their goal.
In all, Ghana had five ‘big chance’ moments where they would be expected to score, but came away with just the single goal.
