Accra, Aug 12 – Two of women’s football’s biggest African names are out of the running for the WAFCON 2026 title, after Ghana and South Africa were eliminated within 24 hours of each other in Morocco.
It’a double blow for both sides as they just miss out on automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which teams earn by making it to the semi-finals.
How Ghana’s campaign ended
Ghana’s Black Queens finished second in Group D behind hosts-in-waiting Cameroon, beating Cape Verde before losing to Cameroon and drawing 1-1 with Mali in their final group match. That was enough to send them into the quarter-finals, where they met WAFCON debutants Malawi.
The Black Queens fought until the final whistle and created several chances, but couldn’t find the goals needed, losing 2-1 in a dramatic contest that ended their tournament.
It’s a step back from 2024, when Ghana claimed bronze at the same tournament. But their World Cup hopes aren’t dead yet. Only the four WAFCON semi-finalists earn automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, and Ghana now enter a playoff eliminator against Ivory Coast for a route back into contention.
South Africa’s exit stings harder
South Africa’s exit came a day earlier, and with a sharper sting attached. Banyana Banyana, the defending champions, met hosts Morocco in the quarter-final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium, a repeat of the 2022 final that South Africa won on Moroccan soil. This time it went the other way.
Morocco’s Sakina Ouzraoui opened the scoring before Ibtissam JraĂŻdi doubled the lead from the penalty spot. Thembi Kgatlana pulled one back for South Africa in the 67th minute, her first WAFCON knockout goal in eight years, but Morocco held firm to win 2-1. Jackpot City odds may not have favoured South Africa, but the result still stings.
South Africa’s group stage campaign had already been shaky, finishing bottom of Group B before recovering to scrape through in second place. Reaching the quarter-finals against the run of play made Saturday’s defeat feel like an opportunity missed rather than a straightforward loss.
Malawi’s fairytale run continues
Elsewhere in the tournament, Malawi have been the story of WAFCON 2026. The debutants beat reigning champions Nigeria 3-2 in their opening match, added a win over Egypt, and have now knocked out Ghana to reach the semi-finals. It’s a remarkable run for a nation with no previous history at this level of the competition.
The semi-final picture is now set, with the final scheduled for 16 August in Rabat. For Ghana and South Africa, attention shifts to the qualification playoffs, where their 2027 World Cup ambitions will be decided in the coming weeks.
Business Dept.