Ghana’s Black Queens have booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after battling to a 1-1 draw against Mali in their final Group D match in Morocco.
The result was enough to secure second place in the group as Ghana edged Mali on goal difference after both sides finished on four points.
The Black Queens will now face Malawi in the quarter-finals on Sunday, August 9, at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
Ghana made a bright start but their efforts were rewarded deep into first half stoppage time when Evelyn Badu found herself at the right place at the right time to head home a teasing cross from 19-year-old Comfort Yeboah. Left unmarked inside the penalty area, Badu guided her effort beyond the Malian goalkeeper to hand the Black Queens a crucial lead and her first ever goal at the WAFCON.
Mali responded strongly after the break and found the equaliser five minutes into the second half. Kadidiatou Diabate’s free kick took a big deflection off Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, wrong-footing Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan before rolling into the net.
The goal set up a tense finish as Mali searched for the winner they desperately needed to stay in the tournament. Ghana, however, defended resolutely when needed to preserve the draw that guaranteed progression to the knockout stage.
While both Ghana and Mali ended the group stage with four points, the Black Queens advanced courtesy of a superior goal difference, ending Mali’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive WAFCON quarter-final.
The Black Queens knew avoiding defeat would be enough to prolong their campaign, and they approached the contest with urgency despite the high stakes.
Badu’s opener highlighted Ghana’s attacking intent, with the experienced forward making the most of Comfort Yeboah’s excellent delivery from the flank. The goal gave Ghana the advantage at a critical moment just before the interval.
Mali’s equaliser after the restart shifted the momentum, but Ghana remained organised defensively throughout the closing stages.
In the other Group D fixture, Cameroon drew 1-1 with tournament debutants Cape Verde. The result consolidated Cameroon’s place at the top of Group D having already been confirmed as group winners with after winning their opening two games, while Cape Verde celebrated their first-ever point at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations despite exiting after defeats in their opening two matches.
Quarter-final Bracket Opens Up for Ghana
Ghana’s reward is a quarter-final showdown with WAFCON debutants Malawi on Sunday, August 9, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 GMT at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
The remaining quarter-final fixtures will see Côte d’Ivoire take on Algeria, hosts Morocco face South Africa, and Cameroon meet defending champions Nigeria in titanic clash.
The tournament bracket has also been confirmed, with Morocco and South Africa placed on one side alongside Cameroon and Nigeria respectively. On the opposite side, Ghana and Malawi share the path with Côte d’Ivoire and Algeria.
That layout has strengthened hopes of another deep run for the Black Queens as they continue their pursuit of a first-ever WAFCON title. Ghana finished third at the previous edition and will now aim to go at least one step further in Morocco.
The quarter-finals begin on Saturday, August 8, with Ghana’s encounter against Malawi following a day later. Victory would send the Black Queens into the semi-finals and keep alive their dream of lifting the continental crown for the first time.
READ ALSO: NPP Petitions Chief Justice Over Alleged Political Persecution
