Ghana’s Black Queens will continue their quest for a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil when they face Côte d’Ivoire in a crucial Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 play-in match on Thursday, August 13.
The Black Queens were forced into the play-in stage after suffering a narrow 2-1 quarterfinal defeat to WAFCON debutants Malawi in Rabat, ending their hopes of securing automatic qualification through the tournament.
Ghana must now overcome Côte d’Ivoire to progress to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Off Tournament, which offers another opportunity for African teams to secure a place at the global showpiece.
The play-in stage features the four teams eliminated at the WAFCON quarterfinal stage, with the two winners advancing as Africa’s representatives at the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
The other play-in fixture will see defending champions Nigeria take on South Africa, with the winners of both matches joining the global playoff competition.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Off Tournament will bring together teams from different confederations, with the remaining qualification slots for the 2027 tournament to be decided through a knockout format.
The first phase of the playoff tournament is scheduled for November and December 2026 at a centralised venue, where six teams, including Africa’s two representatives, will compete for places in the final phase.
The final phase, set for February 2027, will feature six teams divided into three knockout paths, with the winners of each path earning qualification to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
For Ghana, attention now shifts fully to Côte d’Ivoire. A victory will keep the Black Queens’ World Cup dream alive, while defeat will officially end their hopes of returning to the global tournament for the first time since 2007.
