Ghana’s senior women’s national football team, the Black Queens, have withdrawn from a planned three nation tournament in Tanzania just days before the competition was due to begin, with the Ghana Football Association declining to provide an official explanation for the decision. The development has raised questions among supporters and observers as the team continues preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The tournament, scheduled to take place in Dar es Salaam during the June FIFA international window from June 1 to June 9, was expected to feature Ghana, hosts Tanzania and Malawi. It had been arranged as part of preparations for major international assignments, particularly the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where the Black Queens are aiming to build on their recent resurgence.
Just a week earlier, the Ghana Football Association had publicly announced the team’s participation in the competition, describing it as an important opportunity for match fitness, player assessment and team chemistry ahead of WAFCON 2026. Officials had highlighted the tournament as a chance for the technical team to evaluate players and maintain competitive momentum during the international break.
However, on June 1, the association confirmed that the Black Queens would no longer participate in the event. While the statement acknowledged the withdrawal, it did not disclose the reasons behind the decision, fueling speculation among fans and football stakeholders.
According to information released by the association, the Black Queens will instead remain in Accra throughout the FIFA window and continue preparations through a series of friendly matches in the capital. The Ghana Football Association believes the alternative arrangement will allow the technical team to continue its preparations without interruption.
The lack of an official explanation has attracted attention because the tournament was initially presented as a key component of Ghana’s WAFCON preparations. The sudden change in plans leaves Tanzania and Malawi to adjust their schedules for the competition, which was designed to provide valuable international match experience for all participating teams.
The Black Queens have enjoyed significant progress in recent months under the guidance of Swedish coach Kim Lars Björkegren. Earlier this year, the team won the Pink Ladies Cup in the United Arab Emirates, recording impressive victories and demonstrating the growing strength of the squad. The tournament victory boosted confidence within the camp as preparations intensified for continental competition.
Ghana’s women’s national team has been rebuilding steadily after years of inconsistency on the continental stage. Their recent performances have generated renewed optimism among supporters, particularly following a third place finish at the previous Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The team has been working to establish itself among Africa’s leading women’s football nations and secure qualification for future global competitions.
The June international window was widely viewed as an important opportunity for the coaching staff to assess player readiness and strengthen tactical understanding ahead of tougher assignments later in the year. Participation in the Tanzania tournament would have provided competitive matches against fellow African opponents also preparing for major tournaments.
Despite missing out on the tournament, Ghana’s preparations are expected to continue through locally arranged friendlies. The coaching staff will likely use those matches to evaluate players and maintain fitness levels while continuing to fine tune strategies for upcoming competitions.
For now, attention remains focused on whether the Ghana Football Association will eventually provide clarity on the reasons behind the withdrawal. With the Black Queens preparing for one of the most important periods in the team’s recent history, transparency surrounding such decisions may become increasingly important as expectations continue to rise.
Although the withdrawal represents an unexpected change of course, the association insists preparations remain on track. Whether the alternative plan proves as beneficial as the Tanzania tournament remains to be seen, but supporters will hope the disruption does not affect the team’s momentum as it seeks success on the continental stage.
