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2026 WAFCON: Holders Nigeria eliminated as Malawi stun Ghana to qualify for World Cup
10th August, 2026 07:33 AM
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco delivered high-stakes drama across the quarter-finals on August 8 and 9, 2026.
With direct qualification spots for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil awarded to the semi-finalists, several continental powerhouses suffered shocking exits, as Malawi wrote history as an emerging nation.
Cameroon’s redemption against Nigeria
In Sunday’s marquee fixture, Cameroon secured a historic 1–0 revenge victory over ten-time champions Nigeria. The result means that the 10-time champions, Nigeria’s Super Falcons, have exited the championship. The victory delivered a long-awaited moment of redemption for the Indomitable Lionesses, who had previously been defeated nine times in regular play and twice in penalty shootouts by their arch-rivals.
The Indomitable Lionesses found their winner through Maeva Nyadjou, who delivered a striking free-kick into the top corner past Chiamaka Nnadozie after Achat Toko won the set piece outside the penalty box.
The result ended the Super Falcons’ dominance and sent them home at the first elimination stage.
Meanwhile, tournament debutants Malawi continued their remarkable fairytale run with a thrilling 2–1 victory over Ghana’s Black Queens.
Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah gave Ghana an early lead in the seventh minute, but match star Temwa Chawinga levelled the score just five minutes later with a brilliant strike. Rose Kadzere then sealed the historic victory in the 79th minute off a Chawinga assist, sending the Scorchers to their first-ever WAFCON semi-final and securing their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification.
Morocco eliminate South Africa
Host nation Morocco also exacted revenge on former defending champions South Africa with a 2–1 victory in a rematch of the 2022 final. Sakina Ouzraoui opened the scoring for the Atlas Lionesses in the 31st minute, and Hanane Aït El Haj doubled the lead shortly after halftime in the 52nd minute.
Thembi Kgatlana pulled one back for Banyana Banyana in the 67th minute, but Morocco held firm to eliminate the title holders. In the remaining quarter-final match, Algeria earned a 2–1 victory over Ivory Coast to secure their first-ever semi-final appearance and direct qualification to Brazil.
Despite their quarter-final eliminations, all is not lost for Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Ivory Coast as they seek to reach the global stage via the continental repechage.
Play-offs
The four eliminated sides will feature in crucial play-off matches on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Casablanca for a chance to advance to the FIFA Inter-Confederation Play-offs.
Ivory Coast will take on Ghana at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium at 5:00 pm, followed by a heavyweight showdown between South Africa and Nigeria at the Moulay Rachid Stadium at 7:00 pm.
