* Banyana Banyana lose 1-2 to hosts Morocco as Algeria stun Côte d’Ivoire to reach the semifinals and a place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027
* The other two places to be determined this evening when Cameroon will face Nigeria (19h00) and Malawi against Ghana (22h00)
* If the Scorchers beat Ghana, they will face hosts Morocco while Algeria will meet winners between heavyweights Cameroon and Nigeria
Maravi Express
All hopes of the COSAFA to be represented at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 rests on Malawi Scorchers this evening (22h00) following South Africa exiting the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) Morocco 2026.
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The Banyana Banyana lost 1-2 to hosts Morocco on Saturday while Algeria stunned Côte d’Ivoire to reach the semifinals.
If the Scorchers beat Ghana tonight (22h00), they will face hosts Morocco while Algeria will meet winners between heavyweights Cameroon and Nigeria.
It was a sweet revenged for Morocco, who lost to South Africa in the final of the 2022 edition and CAFonline reports that the quarterfinal last night was a hard-fought match.
The breakthrough arrived in the 31st minute when Sakina Ouzraoui produced a sublime first-time finish to register her second goal of the tournament.
The forward reacted quickest inside the area to guide her effort beyond Kaylin Swart and hand the hosts a deserved lead before the break.
Morocco doubled their advantage six minutes after the restart when Hanane Aït El Haj calmly converted from the penalty spot after South Africa were adjudged to have committed a foul inside the area.
Trailing by two goals, Banyana Banyana increased the intensity and were rewarded in the 67th minute. Thembi Kgatlana showcased her attacking quality, breaking in from the left before unleashing a fierce strike that reduced the deficit and set up a tense finish.
South Africa continued to push forward in search of an equaliser, applying sustained pressure on the Moroccan defence. However, the hosts remained organised and disciplined at the back, limiting clear-cut opportunities despite the mounting pressure.
Meanwhile, Algeria secured their historic place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup after fighting back to defeat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1.
Second-half goals from Ines Khiri and Amira Ould Braham overturned an early deficit after Ines Konan had given Côte d’Ivoire the lead, sending the Fennecs into the semi-finals of the continental competition for the first time in their history.
The victory only ended Algeria’s long wait for a place among Africa’s last four, and a perfect response to last year’s quarter-final heartbreak, when they were eliminated by Ghana on penalties after a goalless draw.
While Algeria celebrated automatic qualification for Brazil 2027, Côte d’Ivoire’s World Cup hopes remain alive despite the defeat.
Under the expanded qualification system, the four losing quarter-finalists will contest an African play-off, with the two winners progressing to the FIFA Women’s World Cup inter-confederation play-offs.
Those two nations will have one final opportunity to secure places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and increase Africa’s representation on the global stage.
The match brought together two contrasting styles. Côte d’Ivoire entered the quarter-final as one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking teams after scoring eight goals during the group stage, while Algeria arrived boasting one of the competition’s strongest defensive records.
The Ivorians settled quickest and looked determined to test Algeria’s well-organised back line and their persistence paid off in the 30th minute when Ines Konan broke the deadlock, finishing confidently to reward an impressive first-half display from Reynald Pedros’ side.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically before half-time when Habibou Ouedraogo was shown a red card, reducing Côte d’Ivoire to 10 players for the remainder of the contest.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Côte d’Ivoire refused to surrender. Coach Pedros introduced fresh legs as his side pushed desperately for an equaliser that would force extra time.
But Algeria’s defensive organisation, which had become the hallmark of their campaign, held firm once again.
Goalkeeper Chloé N’Gazi marshalled her defence superbly as Algeria repelled sustained late pressure to protect their slender advantage.
When the final whistle sounded, the celebrations reflected the significance of the achievement.—Reporting by CAFonline; editing by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express
Group stage results, standings and knockout stage fixtures (kick-off times CAT beamed live on SuperSport live on DStv Channel 225 (https://dstv.stream) and on GOtv Channel 61 (https://gotv.stream):
Group A
Algeria 2-0 Senegal
Morocco 4-0 Kenya
Senegal 1-0 Kenya
Morocco 1-0 Algeria
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Kenya 0-2 Algeria
Group B
South Africa 1-2 Tanzania
Côte d’Ivoire 4-1 Burkina Faso
South Africa 2-2 Côte d’Ivoire
Burkina Faso 2-1 Tanzania
Burkina Faso 0-1 South Africa
Tanzania 1-2 Côte d’Ivoire
Group C
Zambia 6-0 Egypt
Nigeria 3-2 Malawi
Egypt 1-3 Malawi
Nigeria 1-9 Zambia
Egypt 2-6 Nigeria
Malawi 1-2 Zambia
Group D
Ghana 2-0 Cape Verde
Cameroon 2-1 Mali
Ghana 0-1 Cameroon
Mali 3-2 Cape Verde
Mali 1-1 Ghana
Cape Verde 1-1 Cameroon
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Quarterfinals
Côte d’Ivoire 1-2 Algeria
Morocco 2-1 South Africa
Today, August 9
Cameroon v Nigeria (19h00)
Malawi v Ghana (22h00)
Semifinals
Wednesday, August 12
SF2: Morocco v Cameroon/Nigeria (19h00)
SF1: Algeria v Malawi/Ghana (22h00)
World Cup 2027 play-off matches
Thursday, August 13
South Africa v Cameroon/Nigeria (19h00)
Côte d’Ivoire v Malawi/Ghana (22h00)
Third place play-off
Saturday, August 15
Loser SF1 v Loser SF2 (19h00)
WAfCON 2026 final
Sunday, August 16
Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 (Moulay Hassan Stadium or Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, (21h00)
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