WAFCON 2026: Sharon Sampson's goal secures a slim friendly victory for Ghana’s Black Queens against Ivory Coast.

The Black Queens of Ghana intensified their preparations for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Tuesday with an important friendly against Ivory Coast. In a closed-door warm-up match held at the Stade Pre Jgo in Casablanca, Morocco, a late goal by forward Sharon Sampson proved decisive, securing a slim victory for the Black Queens at the final whistle.

90- - Full time! A 75th-minute goal from Sharon Sampson grants us a 1-0 win over Ivory Coast in our WAFCON warm-up. Momentum is building. 1:0 #ShineBlackQueens #MoreThanAble pic.twitter.com/4PJecKDKqw

Ghana Women National Teams (@GhanaWNT) July 14, 2026. Tuesday's match provided Ghana head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren with another chance to assess his squad as he continues to mold his team ahead of WAFCON. Ivory Coast also utilized this opportunity to enhance their preparations for the forthcoming tournament in Morocco. In WAFCON 2026, the Black Queens will compete in Group D against Cameroon, Cape Verde, and Mali. With the tournament set to commence on July 25, the Black Queens are anticipated to engage in at least one more friendly before finalizing their preparations.