Black Queens advance to face Malawi as Cameroon top Group D; Nigeria set for quarter-final clash with Cameroon.
Ghana secured the final quarter-final spot at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after drawing 1-1 with Mali in Rabat on Thursday.
The Black Queens entered the Group D encounter knowing a draw would be enough to send them through, having held the advantage on goal difference over Mali.
Cameroon finished top of the group with seven points after a 1-1 draw with debutants Cape Verde, while Ghana and Mali finished on four points each. Cape Verde ended the campaign with one point.
Ghana took the lead in first-half stoppage time when Evelyn Badu headed a Comfort Yeboah cross past Mali goalkeeper Aissatou Liberge.
Mali equalised five minutes after the restart when a free-kick from substitute Kadidiatou Diabate took a deflection and left Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan stranded.
Mali had a late opportunity to snatch the win and qualify for the last eight, but Diabate’s free-kick was comfortably saved by Konlan.
In the other Group D match, Cameroon drew 1-1 with Cape Verde. Grace Mendoua put Cameroon ahead in the 28th minute before Ivania Moreira equalised five minutes after the break.
Ghana, a three-time WAFCON runner-up, will now face Malawi in the quarter-finals on Sunday, while Cameroon will battle defending champions and record 10-time winners Nigeria.
The other quarter-final fixtures will see hosts Morocco face South Africa, while Côte d’Ivoire take on Algeria.
The four quarter-final winners will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, while the losing teams will have another opportunity through African and intercontinental play-offs.
2026 WAFCON Quarter-Final Fixtures
Saturday, August 8
- Côte d’Ivoire vs Algeria — 6:00 PM WAT, Casablanca
- Morocco vs South Africa — 9:00 PM WAT, Rabat
Sunday, August 9
- Cameroon vs Nigeria — 6:00 PM WAT, Casablanca
- Malawi vs Ghana — 9:00 PM WAT, Rabat
The quarter-final schedule and venues are consistent with the published WAFCON fixtures.