The final four of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations are now confirmed. Cameroon and Malawi joined hosts Morocco and Algeria in the semi-finals after eliminating defending champions Nigeria and Ghana respectively. Their progress has also secured all four of Africa’s direct qualification spots for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Cameroon and Malawi pull off major upsets
Cameroon produced one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by knocking out defending champions Nigeria with a narrow 1-0 victory.
Myriam Maéva Nyadjou Wamen scored the decisive goal to send the Indomitable Lionesses into the semi-finals and secure their place at next year’s World Cup.
Cameroon will now face Morocco, the host nation, in the last four, with a place in the final at stake.
In the other quarter-final, Malawi also caused an upset by defeating Ghana 2-1.
The Black Queens took the lead through Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, but Malawi responded quickly. Temwa Chawinga equalised in the 12th minute before Rose Kadzere completed the comeback in the second half.
The victory sent the Scorchers into the semi-finals for the first time and also secured Malawi’s maiden qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Malawi will meet Algeria in the semi-finals, with another historic achievement within reach.
Algeria qualify for their first Women’s World Cup
Algeria have secured a historic place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, reaching the global tournament for the first time.
The Greens impressed during the group stage, recording victories over Senegal and Kenya before losing narrowly to hosts Morocco.
They then produced another comeback in the quarter-finals, defeating Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 to reach the semi-finals and seal their World Cup ticket.
After reaching the quarter-finals for the first time at the previous edition of the Women’s AFCON, Algeria have taken another major step forward under coach Farid Benstiti.
Morocco continue their rise
Hosts Morocco will also be heading to Brazil in 2027.
The Atlas Lionesses topped their group unbeaten before defeating South Africa 2-1 in the quarter-finals to secure their place in the last four and automatically qualify for the World Cup.
Morocco already have World Cup experience. At their debut in 2023, the Atlas Lionesses made history by reaching the round of 16 after progressing from a difficult group.
Their qualification for the 2027 tournament further underlines Morocco’s growing status as one of the leading forces in African women’s football.
Cameroon return to the World Cup
Cameroon also secured their place at the global tournament after an impressive campaign.
The Indomitable Lionesses finished top of their group before eliminating defending champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals.
Their 1-0 victory means Cameroon will return to the Women’s World Cup after previously appearing at the tournament in 2015 and 2019.
On both occasions, the Central African side reached the round of 16.
Malawi make history
Malawi have emerged as one of the biggest stories of the tournament.
Making their first appearance at the Women’s AFCON, the Scorchers topped their group before completing a remarkable comeback against Ghana in the quarter-finals.
Their 2-1 victory not only earned them a place in the semi-finals but also delivered a first-ever Women’s World Cup qualification.
Malawi will now face Algeria, with a place in the AFCON final also at stake.
Two more African World Cup spots remain possible
While Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon and Malawi have secured Africa’s four direct qualification places, the continent could still send up to six teams to the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The four teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will have another route to the global tournament through CAF play-offs.
Côte d’Ivoire will face Ghana, while defending champions Nigeria will take on South Africa in the play-offs scheduled for Thursday.
The two winners will qualify for FIFA’s intercontinental play-offs, keeping their World Cup hopes alive.
African teams face a long road through the FIFA play-offs
The two African representatives will first enter the preliminary phase of the FIFA intercontinental play-offs during the November-December 2026 international window.
Six teams will take part in this preliminary stage: two from Africa, two from Asia, one from Oceania and one from South America.
The two best-performing teams will then advance to the final phase of the play-offs in February 2027.
They will join four teams that have qualified directly for that stage: two from Central America, one from UEFA and one from South America.
Six nations will ultimately compete for the three remaining places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with the tickets decided through three single-match play-off finals.
Africa therefore already has four confirmed representatives in Brazil, while two additional places remain within reach through the intercontinental route.
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