Before the Black Queens became regular contenders on the African stage, before Ghana’s women’s national team experienced the disappointment of repeatedly missing the FIFA Women’s World Cup, there was a group of women who first took the country to football’s biggest stage.

On June 20, 1999, Ghana made its FIFA Women’s World Cup debut in the United States, facing Australia at Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts.

A photograph from that historic afternoon has resurfaced, showing the Ghana team that carried the weight of becoming the first Black Queens side to play at a World Cup.

In goal was Memunatu Sulemana, with Rita Yeboah, Regina Ansah, Elizabeth Baidu and Patience Sackey forming the defence. Genevive Clottey, Adjoa Bayor and Barikisu Tettey-Quao featured in midfield, while Alberta Sackey, Vivian Mensah and Mavis Dgajmah completed the starting XI.

It was not an easy introduction to the global stage.

Ghana were reduced to 10 players in the 26th minute when Tettey-Quao was sent off. Despite playing a woman down, the Black Queens held Australia scoreless for much of the contest, with Sulemana producing a strong performance in goal.

Australia eventually broke the deadlock in the 74th minute through Julie Murray.

But Ghana's first World Cup chapter was not going to end in defeat.

Just two minutes later, substitute Nana Gyamfuah struck to restore parity and secure a 1-1 draw. The equaliser came after a save from Australian goalkeeper Tracey Wheeler, giving Ghana a point in their very first World Cup match.

It remains one of the most important moments in the history of Ghanaian women's football.

The Black Queens would lose their next two group games: 7-0 against China and 2-0 against Sweden and exit at the group stage. But the significance of that first afternoon could not be erased.

Four years later, Ghana would return to the World Cup and make even more history, defeating Australia 2-1 for the country's first victory at the tournament.

But it all started in 1999.

Before the fame, before the generations that followed, these women were the pioneers who walked onto the World Cup stage for Ghana for the first time.


FKA/AM