Black Queens Fall 2–0 to England in High-Intensity Friendly at St. Mary’s Stadium
The Ghana senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, put up a spirited performance on Tuesday night but fell 2–0 to the Lionesses of England in an international friendly played at the St. Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.
The historic encounter, which attracted a large and lively crowd, tested Ghana’s growing strength under head coach Kim Lars Björkegren as they faced the reigning European champions on their home turf.
England wasted no time in stamping their authority on the game, taking the lead as early as the 6th minute through Lucia Kendall. The early strike, however, seemed to awaken the fighting spirit of the Black Queens rather than unsettle them.
Debutant defender Benedicte Simon impressed many as she delivered a composed and confident display at the back, justifying the decision of Coach Björkegren to hand her a starting role.
Despite England controlling possession for large spells, the Black Queens matched them with resilience, tactical discipline, and quick transitions. Their efforts ensured the first half ended with the Lionesses holding on to a narrow 1–0 lead.
One of the brightest performers on the night was Ghanaian goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan, who produced several top-class saves to keep her side in the game. Her agility, reflexes, and command of the penalty area earned her the Player of the Match award—an honour well deserved.
Ghana returned from the break looking more confident and purposeful. The Queens created a few half-chances and pushed menacingly into England’s territory, but poor finishing denied them the equaliser they desperately chased.
The Lionesses, on the other hand, continued to probe and were eventually rewarded deep into stoppage time. A VAR review saw England awarded a penalty in the 95th minute, which Alessia Russo calmly converted to seal the victory.
England’s head coach, Sarina Wiegman, who had earlier hinted at a possible goal feast against Ghana, was full of admiration for the Black Queens after the final whistle. She praised their determination, defensive organisation, and fighting spirit, acknowledging that they gave her side a far tougher challenge than expected.
For Coach Björkegren, the match provided valuable lessons as Ghana prepares for upcoming international assignments. The performance, especially in the second half, will be a confidence booster for the team as they continue their rebuilding journey.
The Black Queens will now return to camp to evaluate their performance and make corrections ahead of future fixtures.
