Ghana Women produced a superb second-half comeback to defeat Ivory Coast Women 2-1 in a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations Women play-in final, overturning a first-half deficit through goals from Princess Marfo and Josephine Bonsu Kyerewaa.
Ivory Coast appeared to have taken control after Konan I. converted a fourth-minute penalty, giving the hosts the perfect start. Ghana, however, refused to surrender.
After going into half-time 1-0 down, Ghana emerged transformed. Marfo equalized in the 59th minute before Bonsu Kyerewaa converted a decisive penalty in the 72nd minute to complete the turnaround.
Final score: Ivory Coast Women 1-2 Ghana Women.
For African football followers, including the rapidly growing women’s football audience in Tanzania, the match reminded them of the competitiveness and unpredictability of the women’s game across the continent.
Ivory Coast Strike After Just Four Minutes
The match could hardly have started better for Ivory Coast.
Only four minutes were on the clock when Konan I. scored from the penalty spot, putting the Ivorian side 1-0 ahead and immediately forcing Ghana to chase the contest.
With such an early advantage in a high-stakes match, Ivory Coast had an opportunity to dictate proceedings and make Ghana increasingly desperate.
The opening half was also physical, with several notable incidents. Amani B. entered the referee’s book in the 13th minute, while Ghana’s Portia Boakye was cautioned in the 25th minute.
Anastasie Gbehi was also booked in the 38th minute as the intensity increased.
Ghana suffered another setback in first-half stoppage time when Evelyn Badu replaced Doris Boaduwaa due to injury.
At the interval, Ivory Coast remained ahead.
Half-time: Ivory Coast Women 1-0 Ghana Women
For Ghana, something needed to change. It did.
Princess Marfo Brings Ghana Back Into the Contest
The second half produced a very different story.
Rather than letting the early penalty define their night, Ghana kept searching for an equalizer.
Their persistence was rewarded in the 59th minute.
Princess Marfo found the net to make it 1-1, with Stella Nyamekye providing the assist.
Suddenly, the momentum had shifted.
Ivory Coast’s first-half advantage had disappeared and Ghana now had the opportunity to turn a recovery into a complete comeback.
That moment arrived just 13 minutes later.
Josephine Bonsu Kyerewaa Penalty Completes Ghana’s Comeback
The defining moment came in the 72nd minute.
Ghana was awarded a penalty, and Josephine Bonsu Kyerewaa stepped up to put her country ahead.
She converted.
Ivory Coast 1-2 Ghana.
It represented a remarkable transformation from a Ghana side that had been trailing since the fourth minute.
Interestingly, penalties effectively bookended the scoring. Ivory Coast had opened the match from the spot, while Ghana’s second goalāand ultimately the match-winnerāalso came from a penalty.
The difference was what happened between those two moments.
Ghana recovered from adversity and made their second-half opportunities count.
Ivory Coast Make Changes but Ghana Hold Firm
With their advantage gone, Ivory Coast attempted to change the course of the match.
A. Diallo replaced E. Dagba in the 72nd minute, while A. Abrogoua came on for opening goalscorer Konan in the 78th minute.
Ghana also turned to their bench as they attempted to protect the lead.
Sharon Sampson replaced Stella Nyamekye in the 83rd minute, while Abena Opoku came on for Susan Duah, with the latter substitution forced by injury.
Evelyn Badu was cautioned in the 85th minute before Linda Owusu replaced Grace Asantewaa in the 90th minute as Ghana managed the closing stages.
Ivory Coast could not find the equalizer.
The final whistle confirmed an impressive Ghanaian comeback.
Ivory Coast Women vs Ghana Women: Key Match Events
| Minute | Event |
| 4′ | Konan I. penalty ā Ivory Coast 1-0 Ghana |
| 13′ | Amani B. booked |
| 25′ | Portia Boakye booked |
| 38′ | Anastasie Gbehi booked |
| 45+1′ | Evelyn Badu replaces injured Doris Boaduwaa |
| 59′ | Princess Marfo scores ā 1-1 |
| 72′ | Josephine Bonsu Kyerewaa penalty ā Ghana lead 2-1 |
| 72′ | A. Diallo replaces E. Dagba |
| 78′ | A. Abrogoua replaces Konan I. |
| 83′ | Sharon Sampson replaces Stella Nyamekye |
| 83′ | Abena Opoku replaces injured Susan Duah |
| 85′ | Evelyn Badu booked |
| 90′ | Linda Owusu replaces Grace Asantewaa |
What Decided the Ivory Coast Women vs Ghana Women?
Three moments stand out.
First was Ghana’s response to conceding so early. Falling behind from a fourth-minute penalty could easily have disrupted their game plan, but they remained within striking distance throughout the first half.
The second was Marfo’s 59th-minute equalizer. The goal changed the complexion of the match and gave Ghana the momentum required to attack the remainder of the contest with greater confidence.
Finally, Bonsu Kyerewaa’s composure from the penalty spot proved decisive. In a match of such importance, converting a potentially match-winning penalty required calmness under pressure.
Together, those moments produced a memorable 2-1 comeback.
A Result That Highlights the Growth of African Women’s Football
For football supporters in Tanzania, this contest also carries broader significance.
Women’s football continues to develop across Africa, with national teams becoming increasingly competitive and matches producing the sort of drama traditionally associated with the continent’s biggest men’s competitions.
Tanzania has its own stake in that progress through the development of the Twiga Stars and women’s domestic football.
Matches such as Ghana’s comeback against Ivory Coast demonstrate why greater attention to women’s football across East, West, Southern and North Africa matters. More competitive national teams ultimately strengthen the continental game and raise the standard opponents such as Tanzania must meet.
For Tanzanian fans following African football beyond the traditional heavyweight men’s competitions, women’s international football is increasingly offering compelling contests of its own.
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Final Verdict: Ghana’s Second-Half Response Makes the Difference
Ivory Coast Women 1-2 Ghana Women was ultimately a story of resilience.
Ivory Coast struck first through Konan’s fourth-minute penalty and carried their advantage into half-time, but Ghana refused to allow the early setback to decide the contest.
Princess Marfo’s 59th-minute equalizer opened the door.
Josephine Bonsu Kyerewaa’s 72nd-minute penalty kicked it wide open.
From 1-0 down to 2-1 winners, Ghana produced exactly the kind of response demanded in a high-pressure Africa Cup of Nations Women’s play-in final.
Ivory Coast had the perfect beginning.
Ghana had the perfect responseāand, more importantly, the final word.
