Ghana’s Black Queens kick off their 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign in Morocco with a renewed sense of purpose — not to chase the trophy at all costs but to reclaim their lost glory as one of the continent’s footballing powerhouses.

Once considered continental trailblazers with three silver and two bronze medals to their name, the Queens have seen their stock fall in recent years, overtaken by emerging forces such as Zambia and Morocco. 

But this year’s tournament offers a golden opportunity for redemption. Under new leadership and with a youthful squad eager to impress, the Queens are hoping to rewrite their story, starting with a high-stakes Group C opener against the defending champions, South Africa on Monday.

New era, new energy

Rather than make bold proclamations about lifting the trophy, Coach Kim Lars Björkegren’s side are focused on restoring pride and respect, returning Ghana’s name to the upper echelons of African football.

Björkegren’s 24-player squad, announced last Monday, is a blend of youthful exuberance rich in potential but low on tournament experience.

Only four players — skipper Portia Boakye, Alice Kusi, Sherifatu Sumaila, and Grace Asantewaa — have previous WAFCON exposure.

The rest of the squad are fresh graduates from Ghana’s U-20 ranks, many of whom honed their craft on the global stage and impressed at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

There were no major surprises in Björkegren’s final squad, but it is clear the Swedish gaffer is banking on youth and hunger over name recognition, as the team are not ranked among the favourites.

However, there will be little time for costly experiments in Morocco as Ghana’s group includes not only the title holders, but also a talented Mali side and Tanzania, making every point crucial in the race to the knockout stages.

Despite having been in charge for just six months, Björkegren will be under scrutiny.

The Queens’ pre-tournament friendlies raised eyebrows — a 3-1 win over Malawi was followed by a 4-2 defeat to Benin and a 3-1 loss to Nigeria. Defensive frailties were laid bare, with six goals conceded in three outings, and fixing the back line has become a matter of urgency before Monday’s showdown.

The gaffer has emphasised the need to fix those lapses quickly, as a repeat of those errors against the Banyana Banyana could be very costly.

South Africa may be the reigning queens of African football but they arrive in Morocco missing nine members of the squad that secured their first WAFCON title in 2022. It’s a team in transition, and that vulnerability could be Ghana’s opening.

Despite their recent dip, the Black Queens hold the edge in head-to-head meetings with five wins, two draws and just one defeat -- a record that should instil confidence in the young Ghanaian side as they prepare for battle in Rabat.

The tournament kicks off today (July 5) with a Group A clash between Morocco and Zambia, a match of particular interest to Ghanaians, as former Black Queens coach Nora Häuptle now leads the Zambian Copper Queens.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Africa’s most decorated side, begin their campaign tomorrow (Sunday) against Tunisia, with many tipping them to go all the way. The other Group C encounter will see Mali face Tanzania on Monday.