Ghana and Cameroon laid down early markers in Group D of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after both nations opened their campaigns with victories over Cape Verde and Mali respectively on an entertaining day of football in Morocco.
The Black Queens produced an assured display to defeat tournament newcomers Cape Verde 2-0, while Cameroon were forced to dig deep before overcoming Mali 2-1 in a tightly fought West African-Central African contest.
For Ghana, victory represented the perfect response to expectations surrounding one of Africa’s traditional women’s football powerhouses.
Having been drawn alongside Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde, the Black Queens knew that dropping points against the group’s newcomers could complicate their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds. Instead, they delivered a composed performance that earned maximum points.
Cape Verde, one of two debutants at this year’s expanded tournament, competed with determination but struggled to contain Ghana’s attacking quality over 90 minutes. Despite the loss, the island nation gained valuable experience in its first appearance on the continental stage.
Cameroon, meanwhile, faced a far sterner examination against Mali.
Both teams entered the tournament through CAF’s expansion and repechage process, but the Indomitable Lionesses demonstrated why they remain one of Africa’s most respected women’s football nations, holding their nerve to emerge 2-1 winners after an evenly balanced encounter.
The victory keeps Cameroon firmly on course for a place in the quarter-finals, although tougher tests lie ahead against Ghana and Cape Verde.
With Ghana and Cameroon both collecting three points on Matchday One, their meeting in the next round of fixtures has already taken on enormous significance, with the winner likely to seize control of Group D and move a step closer to qualification for the knockout stage.
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