Algeria, Cameroon, Malawi and Morocco have booked their tickets to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil after reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which is doubling as Africa’s continental qualifying tournament.
Morocco got the better of defending champions South Africa, winning 2-1 courtesy of goals from Sakina Ouzraoui Diki and Hanane Ait El Haj. The result denied the hosts of the 2023 edition a direct route to Brazil and eliminated the reigning African champions from automatic qualification.
In the day’s other North African tie, Algeria produced a dramatic turnaround against 10-player Ivory Coast, coming from behind to win 2-1. Ines Khiri and Amira Ould Braham were on the scoresheet, with the Ivorians reduced to ten players after a red card while they held the lead.
The victory sent Algeria to a first-ever WAFCON semi-final and delivered their first-ever Women’s World Cup qualification, a reversal of fortunes after a penalty shootout exit at the same stage last year.
Cameroon claimed their spot with a 1-0 win over Nigeria, settled by a stunning long-range strike from 19-year-old Myriam Nyadjou. The result ended the reign of the defending World Cup regulars and continued Cameroon’s rise on the continental stage.
The biggest shock came courtesy of Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world. Trailing Ghana, Malawi fought back to win 2-1 through goals from Temwa Chawinga and Rose Kadzere, securing their first-ever Women’s World Cup berth and eliminating one of the tournament’s traditional heavyweights.
The four losing quarter-finalists, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Africa, are not yet out of contention. They will contest an expanded play-off system alongside other nations, with three additional World Cup spots still up for grabs from that pool.
Morocco and Cameroon will meet in one semi-final, while Algeria face Malawi in the other, with both winners advancing to the WAFCON final.
The 2027 Women’s World Cup, hosted by Brazil, runs from June 24 to July 25 and will feature 32 teams, with 18 nations having already secured their places across the various continental qualifying competitions.
