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WAFCON 2026

WAFCON 2026: Black Queens reach quarterfinals after hard-fought draw against Mali

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Ghana’s Black Queens have secured qualification to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco after playing out a 1-1 draw with Mali in their final Group D fixture.

The result was enough for Ghana to progress, having needed at least a draw to confirm their place in the knockout stage of the tournament.

The Black Queens started strongly and took the lead in the first half through Evelyn Badu, who headed home a well-delivered cross from Comfort Yeboah.

The goal followed a brilliant attacking move involving Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, whose play on the wing created the opportunity before Comfort Yeboah delivered the decisive cross for Badu.

The match against Mali marked the first start of the tournament for both Evelyn Badu and Comfort Yeboah, with Comfort making her first appearance of the competition.

Ghana continued to dominate proceedings after taking the lead, with Doris Boaduwaa coming close on several occasions but unable to find the back of the net.

Mali were forced into an early change in the first half after goalkeeper Karentao suffered an injury while making a save and had to be replaced.

The Black Queens entered the second half with the advantage but Mali responded quickly, drawing level through Diabaté, whose free-kick effort took a deflection before finding the net.

Ghana thought they had regained the lead when Evelyn Badu scored again, but the goal was ruled out for offside. It was the second time at the tournament that Badu had seen a goal disallowed due to an offside decision.

Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren made changes as Ghana searched for a winning goal, introducing Stella Nyamekye for Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, while Ajegipena Zakaria and Linda Owusu Ansah replaced Doris Boaduwaa and Evelyn Badu.

Despite Ghana’s efforts to secure all three points, the game ended 1-1, a result that confirmed their place in the last eight.

Captain Portia Boakye was named Woman of the Match after another influential performance as Ghana controlled large portions of the encounter.

The Black Queens finished second in Group D with four points, level on points with Mali but advanced ahead of them due to a superior goal difference.

Cameroon topped the group after recording two wins and a draw, including a 1-1 result against Cape Verde in their final group match. Cameroon will face Nigeria in the quarterfinals, while Ghana will battle Malawi on Sunday, August 9, 2026.

The 2026 WAFCON also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with a quarterfinal victory enough to secure qualification for the global tournament.

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From Bronze to Quarter-Final Exit: Why Ghana’s Black Queens Crumbled at WAFCON 2026

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August 17, 2026

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Ghana’s Black Queens fell short of widely acclaimed expectations of the team in the just-ended WAFCON 2026 held in Morocco.
For a team that finished as bronze medallist the previous year in the WAFCON tournament, one would have expected them to build on that momentum for the WAFCON 2026, but it did not happen as such; they failed and were knocked out in the quarter-finals after a 2-1 loss to debutants Malawi (who also beat Nigeria earlier) during the group phase.
In this piece, I look at what accounted for the team’s power showing in the tournament in Morocco.
Kim had no plan.  
Black Queens coach Kim Lars Björkegren is not a newbie to women’s football; for someone who has a longstanding record with women’s football, it shocked him to the core that he failed to exorcise the loopholes in his team and find solutions to it in game and out of game. The team played four games and crucially won just one game, losing two and drawing one against Mali, which was uncharacteristic of the Black Queens. The team lacked the real firepower upfront with Doris Boaduwaa; she looked out of place and fed on crumbs the entire time she led the line. There were as many as ten substitutions upfront, making one wonder if the technical team knew the strengths of the team as they struggled to penetrate and create enough clear chances.
Defensive vulnerabilities
Before the tournament, the Black Queens team looked like they would be the toast of the tournament, considering a six- game unbeaten run scoring twenty-one goals, but when the tournament started, the script flipped.   In three games, the team conceded four goals, some from open play and set-pieces, which highlighted the team’s defensive fragility coupled with a lot of spineless performances. The team looked a pale shadow of itself, with many questioning the tactical authority of coach Kim and his technical team.
Off-field issues
Following their shocking loss to debutants, Malawi, there was a statement purportedly released on behalf of the players. The statement raised several issues; topical among them were outstanding bonuses (including from prior campaigns and qualification), per diems (disputing the start date of payments from their July camp), and inadequate overall support. They noted limited high-level visits (Sports Minister and President mainly at one early session) and said they largely relied on themselves and technical staff, but the Ministry of Sports disputed many claims, stating per diems were paid as approved and some bonuses were being processed or not formally approved. Regardless of the back and forth, they managed to beat neighbours Côte d’Ivoire to set themselves up for the intercontinental playoffs at the end of the year.
Rebuilding needed
While the experience of Portia Boakye (captain), Jennifer Cudjoe, Alice Kusi, and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah was crucial to the team’s survival in the tournament, it was glaring that age was catching up with them. There were several phases of the game were fatigued drolled all over them as they battled to catch up with the youngies of Malawi, but the respite is that Grace Asantewaa, Doris Boaduwa, Evelyn Badu, and Princella Adubea have a considerable amount of experience under their belts, with the upcoming Ajegipina Zakaria, Alex Tay, Benedicte Simon, Linda Owusu Ansah, and Sharon Sampson set to complement them. In the near future, the core of this group will be maintained for team bonding and continuity.
One thing I know is that if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail; proper preparation prevents poor performance. We have been on this road for far too long not to know how to navigate the pitfalls; it seems to me that we are constantly happy to fall into the pit and drown in it.
Others are maximizing their resources; Cameroon just won their first title, and Malawi debutants made an historic final as well as a spot for the World Cup slated for Brazil.
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WAFCON 2026

WAFCON 2026: Cameroon’s Ngock, Malawi’s Chawinga lead tournament award winners

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3 months ago

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August 17, 2026

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The curtains have officially fallen on the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with the outstanding performers of the tournament recognised after a historic competition in Morocco.

Newly crowned champions Cameroon dominated the individual awards, with several players earning recognition for their impressive contributions, while Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga claimed the prestigious Golden Boot award.

Cameroon midfielder Monique Ngock was named the TotalEnergies Woman of the Competition after an outstanding tournament that saw her play a key role in the Indomitable Lionesses’ historic title-winning campaign.

Ngock’s performances throughout the competition helped Cameroon secure their first-ever WAFCON trophy after defeating debutants Malawi in the final.

Malawi forward Temwa Chawinga finished as the tournament’s top scorer, winning the PUMA Golden Boot after scoring five goals and providing two assists.

Chawinga edged Cameroon’s Marie Gisèle Ngah Manga, who also finished the tournament with five goals, including a brace in the final that helped Cameroon lift the continental title.

Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina was rewarded for her outstanding displays between the posts, winning the Best Goalkeeper award after playing a crucial role in the champions’ successful campaign.

The Fair Play Award went to Algeria for their discipline and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.

The 2026 WAFCON ended with Cameroon lifting their first African women’s football title, Malawi finishing as historic runners-up in their debut appearance, and both teams securing qualification to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil alongside the other top-performing African nations.

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WAFCON 2026

WAFCON 2026: Cameroon crowned African Champions after defeating Malawi in historic final

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August 16, 2026

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Cameroon have been crowned champions of Africa for the first time after defeating tournament debutants Malawi in the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The Indomitable Lionesses produced a dominant first-half display, scoring three goals before the break to take control of the final.

Marie Gisèle Ngah Manga was the star of the occasion, scoring twice, while Eto added another goal as Cameroon built a commanding advantage.

Malawi, who were appearing in their first-ever WAFCON tournament, could not complete another fairytale comeback as Cameroon held on to secure their maiden continental title.

The victory marks Cameroon’s first WAFCON triumph after four previous final appearances. The Indomitable Lionesses had reached the final on three occasions before (2004, 2014 and 2016) but missed out on the trophy each time.

Ngah Manga capped off an outstanding tournament with a brace in the final, taking her tally to five goals and earning the Woman of the Match award.

For Malawi, the journey has been nothing short of historic. The debutants shocked the continent by reaching the final after eliminating Ghana in the quarterfinals and Algeria in the semifinals.

They also announced their arrival on the big stage by defeating 10-time champions Nigeria 3-2 in their opening group-stage match.

Despite falling short in the final, Malawi’s remarkable campaign has earned them a place among Africa’s elite and secured qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Cameroon and Malawi will both represent Africa at the global tournament, having finished among the top four teams at WAFCON 2026, which also served as the continent’s qualification pathway for the World Cup.

The 2026 WAFCON final will be remembered as the night Cameroon finally lifted the African women’s football crown after years of waiting, while Malawi completed one of the greatest debut campaigns in the history of the competition.

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WAFCON 2026

WAFCON 2026: Black Queens beat Côte d’Ivoire to keep World Cup dream alive

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August 13, 2026

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Ghana’s Black Queens have kept their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil alive after fighting back to defeat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 play-in match.

The victory means Ghana have advanced to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Off Tournament, where they will continue their quest for a place at the global showpiece.

The Black Queens had a difficult start to the encounter as Côte d’Ivoire took the lead in the second minute after Princess Marfo was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the penalty area. The Ivorians converted the resulting spot kick to put Ghana under early pressure.

Early in the second half, Stella Nyamekye thought she had restored parity for Ghana, but her effort was ruled out, denying the Black Queens a quick comeback.

However, Ghana continued pushing and were eventually rewarded in the 58th minute when Princess Marfo rose highest to head home the equaliser and bring the Black Queens level.

The momentum shifted in Ghana’s favour, and the team completed the comeback in the 72nd minute through Josephine Bonsu, who calmly converted from the penalty spot after a handball offence by Côte d’Ivoire. The penalty was won by Grace Asantewaa, whose effort helped create the decisive moment that gave Ghana the lead.

Princess Marfo was rewarded for her outstanding performance with the Woman of the Match award after scoring Ghana’s equaliser and playing a key role in the team’s attacking efforts.

Following their quarterfinal exit to Malawi, Ghana entered the play-in route alongside the other WAFCON quarterfinal losers. The winners of the African play-in matches advance to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Off Tournament, where they will compete for one of the remaining World Cup slots through the inter-confederation qualification process.

The Black Queens now move one step closer to returning to the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2007, but they must navigate the global play-off stage to complete their qualification journey.

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