WAFCON: Ghana joins Cameroon in the quarters, edge Mali on goal difference
Ghana secured a place in the 2026 WAFCON quarter-finals after drawing 1-1 with Mali, while Cameroon advanced unbeaten following a 1-1 draw with tournament debutants Cape Verde.
Ghana have reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after holding Mali to a 1-1 draw in Casablanca.
The Black Queens needed only a point to advance, having entered the decisive Group D fixture ahead of their opponents. Their reward is a last-eight meeting with Malawi.
Evelyn Badu gave Ghana the advantage shortly after half-time, converting a chance created by Comfort Yeboah.
Mali responded through teenage forward Kadidiatou Diabate, whose deflected free-kick found the net four minutes later. Despite pressing for a winner, Mali could not break Ghana’s defence and were eliminated from the competition.
The result represents a significant recovery for Ghana, who had suffered a 1-0 defeat against Cameroon earlier in the group stage. Cameroon had previously strengthened their position at the top by beating both Ghana and Mali, leaving the Black Queens needing to avoid defeat in their final group match.
Cameroon also finished the group stage unbeaten after drawing 1-1 with Cape Verde at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium.
Grace Mendoua put the Indomitable Lionesses ahead before Va Moreira produced a superb equaliser for the tournament debutants, who collected their first-ever WAFCON point despite failing to reach the knockout stage.
Cameroon will now face Nigeria in the quarter-finals, while Ghana take on Malawi in the other last-eight fixture involving Group D teams. The remaining quarter-final ties will see Ivory Coast meet Algeria, with hosts Morocco facing South Africa.
With the expanded tournament serving as part of Africa’s qualification route for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, the stakes have increased considerably.
The four semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the global tournament, while teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will have another opportunity through play-in matches.
