Ghana’s hopes of winning the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) have ended, but their pursuit of a place at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup is still very much alive.
The Black Queens suffered a painful 2-1 defeat to WAFCON debutants Malawi in the quarter-finals on Sunday, a result that appeared to end their hopes of reaching the global showpiece in Brazil.
However, because of the expanded nature of the tournament where 32 nations will be featuring, the qualification structure attached to this year’s WAFCON means Ghana still have another route to the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The Black Queens will face Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday in one of two play-in matches involving the losing quarter-finalists at the the WAFCON. Nigeria and South Africa will square off in the other play-in fixture.
The winners will earn Africa’s two places in the FIFA intercontinental play-off tournament during the November-December international break, keeping Ghana’s World Cup dream alive.
Ghana’s Road to Brazil Is Still Open
The situation is unusual because the four WAFCON semi-finalists automatically qualify for Brazil 2027, while the four quarter-final losers are given another opportunity to reach the World Cup. FIFA confirmed before the tournament that the two winners of the play-in matches would advance to the intercontinental play-offs.
Algeria, Morocco, Malawi and Cameroon have now secured Africa’s four automatic tickets after reaching the last four.
For Ghana, however, everything rests on Thursday’s meeting with Côte d’Ivoire. It is effectively a second chance after the Black Queens missed out on the direct qualification route.
Ghana’s opponents also have plenty at stake. Côte d’Ivoire were beaten by Algeria in their quarter-final, while Ghana fell to Malawi, leaving both sides needing victory to remain in contention.
The other play-in will pit the losers of the remaining two quarter-finals against each other–Nigeria and South Africa, with the two winners becoming Africa’s representatives in the intercontinental play-offs.
The Long Route to the 2027 World Cup
Beating Côte d’Ivoire would not mean Ghana have qualified for the World Cup. It would only take them into the next stage of a demanding global qualification process.
FIFA’s intercontinental play-off tournament involves 10 nations competing for the final three World Cup places. CAF will have two representatives, alongside two from AFC, two from CONCACAF, two from CONMEBOL, one from OFC and one from UEFA.
The first phase will feature six teams, with the two highest-ranked sides progressing to the final phase which will come off in February, 2027. They will then be joined by four teams that receive direct entry into that stage.
Those six teams will be divided into three pathways, with each pathway decided by a direct knockout match. The three winners will claim the final three tickets to Brazil. FIFA has confirmed the structure of the tournament, although the exact format of the first phase is yet to be finalised.
That means Ghana’s permutations are brutally nothing short of straightforward: beat Côte d’Ivoire, survive the first phase of the intercontinental play-offs, then win the decisive final-phase knockout match.
There is no room for another stumble.
A Chance to End a 20-Year World Cup Wait
For Ghana, the opportunity carries considerable historical weight.
The Black Queens have appeared at the Women’s World Cup three times, in 1999, 2003 and 2007, but have never progressed beyond the group stage. Their last appearance came almost two decades ago, and FIFA records their best finish as the group stage in all three tournaments.
The 2003 edition remains their most memorable campaign. Ghana recorded their only Women’s World Cup victory to date when Alberta Sackey scored twice in a 2-1 win over Australia.
The current generation therefore has an opportunity to restore Ghana to a tournament they have been absent from since 2007.
It will not be easy. The Black Queens have already shown enough inconsistency at this WAFCON to raise questions about whether they can navigate several high-pressure matches against opposition from different continents.
But writing Ghana off now would be premature.
Africa is guaranteed four World Cup places through the WAFCON, and with Algeria, Morocco, Malawi and Cameroon already through, the continent could reach its maximum allocation of six teams if the two play-in winners successfully negotiate the intercontinental play-offs.
For Ghana, Thursday is therefore not merely a consolation match after a shock WAFCON exit but it is the first step on a much longer road to Brazil.
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