Omanghana
Ghana’s senior women’s national team, the Black Queens, have qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations following a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Mali.
The result, secured on Thursday, August 6, ensured Ghana finished second in Group D and booked a knockout meeting with Group C winners and tournament debutants Malawi.
The quarter-final will take place on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Al Medina Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT.
Ghana entered its final group match knowing that a positive result would be crucial to extending its campaign. Mali presented a strong challenge, but the Black Queens showed resilience to earn the point needed to advance.
The quarter-final carries even greater importance because the 2026 WAFCON also serves as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
All four teams that reach the WAFCON semi-finals will qualify automatically for the global tournament. Victory over Malawi would therefore send Ghana to the continental semi-finals and secure the Black Queens’ first Women’s World Cup appearance since 2007.
Teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will retain another opportunity through the tournament’s World Cup playoff system, but Ghana will be determined to secure direct qualification.
Malawi have emerged as one of the competition’s biggest surprises. Competing at WAFCON for the first time, the Scorchers advanced as Group C winners after finishing level with Nigeria and Zambia in a dramatic three-way battle.
Despite losing 2-1 to Zambia in their final group match, Malawi retained first place through the competition’s tiebreaking criteria. Their group-stage campaign included a stunning 3-2 victory over defending champions Nigeria.
Ghana’s second-place finish also kept the Black Queens away from a quarter-final meeting with 10-time African champions Nigeria. The Super Falcons, who finished second in Group C, will instead face Group D winners Cameroon.
Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren and his players must now overcome Malawi’s dangerous attacking unit, led by sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga, to achieve Ghana’s immediate objective of returning to the World Cup.
The Black Queens will enter Sunday’s contest encouraged by their progression from a competitive group but aware that there will be no margin for error in the knockout stage.
According to the published WAFCON knockout schedule, the winner of Group C faces the Group D runner-up at Al Medina Stadium at 20:00 GMT. CAF has also confirmed that quarter-final winners advance directly to the semi-finals.
Source: Omanghana
