WAFCON 2025 3rd Place Playoff shows Ghana vs. South Africa and high stakes

Ghana’s Black Queens and South Africa’s Banyana Banyana will clash on Friday, July 25, at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda for the highly competitive third-place match in the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. Moroccan time, with live coverage on Gtv Sports+ Sports.

Both teams fell just short of the final after tough semi-final exits. Ghana was edged out 4-2 on penalties by hosts Morocco following a 1-1 draw, despite taking an early lead through Stella Nyamekye . South Africa, the defending 2022 champions, missed their chance to defend the title after a narrow defeat to Nigeria in the other semi-final . This match offers both teams a chance to end the tournament on a high note by securing a podium finish and a bronze medal.

 

– Ghana aims to build on their historic final appearance in 2006, despite several recent struggles to progress beyond group stages. Their current squad is motivated to capitalize on the opportunity to reclaim continental prominence .

– South Africa comes in with confidence as reigning champions but acknowledges the evolving competition at WAFCON. Head coach Desiree Ellis emphasized the need for humility, as every team poses a threat in this new tournament edition .

Expect an intense, fast-paced battle, with both sides fielding experienced players eager to influence the game. Ghana will rely on the creativity and energy of their midfield and attackers like Stella Nyamekye, while South Africa’s attack—spearheaded by players like Jermaine Seoposenwe and Hildah Magaia—will look to penetrate Ghana’s defense . Goalkeepers and defensive solidity could be a decisive factor given the stakes.

– South Africa enters the match as the defending WAFCON champions, showing resilience despite a narrow semi-final loss to Nigeria in stoppage time.

– They have a strong defensive record recently, having kept multiple clean sheets and maintained an unbeaten run in several previous games.

– South Africa also defeated Ghana earlier in the tournament, which gives them a psychological and tactical advantage.

– Their experience as reigning champions and overall solid form makes them favorites according to betting odds and expert predictions.

– Ghana reached their first WAFCON semi-final since 2016, narrowly losing in penalties to Morocco after a hard-fought 1-1 draw, which shows their competitive edge and resilience.

– They have been missing some opportunities and will want to redeem themselves by securing a podium finish and an extra $50,000 prize for third place.

– Ghana has decent recent form and unbeaten runs against South Africa historically, but their struggles scoring goals consistently and away from home may limit them.

– Ghana’s talent, including goal scorer Stella Nyamekye, provides attacking threats, but their effectiveness in the final third will be critical.

For Ghana, this match offers a chance to make amends for their semi-final heartbreak and continue their development after returning to WAFCON’s upper echelons after years of inconsistency.

Overall, South Africa is favored to win due to better defensive solidity, recent head-to-head success, and the experience of holding the title. Ghana remains competitive with motivation to rebound and has quality in attack, but they need to capitalize on scoring chances and contain South Africa’s threat. The match promises to be tightly contested, but current form and expert analyses indicate a slight advantage for South Africa to clinch third place.

South Africa seeks to assert themselves as a consistent force in African women’s football aiming for back-to-back podium finishes.

The matchup promises a fierce contest between two rivals eager to claim WAFCON’s final medal of the tournament, setting the stage for an exciting finale to the 2025 championship’s group of top four teams.