* As fellow COSAFA side Malawi — the tournament’s surprise package take on Ghana they have twice lost to in international friendlies in a year
* Côte d’Ivoire take on Algeria as Cameroon face record 10-time winners and defending champions Nigeria
By Duncan Mlanjira
While all eyes will be on the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) Morocco 2026 surprise package, the Malawi Scorchers in this weekend’s quarterfinals, today’s encounter between the hosts and South Africa is also billed as a must-watch.
It is a repeat of the WAfCON 2022 edition also in Morocco when Banyana Banyana beat the Atlas Lionesses 2-1 in the final, to claim their first continental title.
For their fellow COSAFA side, the Scorchers, they have created an aura of respect having qualified in the knockout stages after their historic 3-2 victory over record 10-time winners and defending champions Nigeria.
And they also qualified on head-to-head rule at the expense of the COSAFA rivals, Zambia despite losing 1-2 to the Copper Queens in their last Group C match after beating Egypt 3-1 in their second match.
The quarter-finals get underway this evening with the first match at Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca between Côte d’Ivoire and Algeria(19h00) then at Stade Moulay Hassan (22h00) between the hosts and South Africa.
The Scorchers game against Ghana will be the second in tomorrow’s encounters — at Stade Al Madina in Rabat (22h00) after a heavyweight clash between Cameroon and Nigeria.
The quarterfinals winners will qualify will secure a direct ticket to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 with the four losing sides will compete in play-off matches at this WAfCON on Thursday, August 13 to determine the two African representatives for the inter-confederation play-offs.
South Africa and Morocco both reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 — and victory would send Morocco to their second appearance while it will be South Africa’s third after the COSAFA side featured in 2019 and 2023.
For the Scorchers, the quarterfinal stage is a defining moment for Malawi’s women football as they recorded history in qualifying for their first-ever WAfCON.
Faith Chinzimu (front) scored two goals against Angola that qualified the Scorchers to the WAfCON
Tomorrow, Ghana stand in their way to achieve a huge leap by qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 — itself the team’s greatest achievement even if they won’t lift the WAfCON 2026 title itself.
This will be the third meeting between the Scorchers and Ghana having met last year in Morocco in FIFA Window for international friendlies, which the Black Queens won 3-1.
They met in Morocco again in a pre-tournament friendly in which with Ghana won 4-0 but that did not dispirit the Scorchers as soon after they went on to beat Nigeria.
The friendly against Ghana before meeting Nigeria in the opening match
The 3-2 result came after the Scorchers were 2-0 up at the dot of regulation time and the Super Falcons pulled one back in 90+3 before Temwa Chawinga claimed her brace to increase the lead in 99+5.
Then the Nigerians again pulled one back in the last 8th minute of added time.
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
Today, August 8
Côte d’Ivoire v Algeria (19h00)
Morocco v South Africa (22h00)
Tomorrow, August 9
Cameroon v Nigeria (19h00)
Malawi v Ghana/Mali (22h00)
Semifinals
Wednesday, August 12
SF2: Winner QF2 v Winner QF3 (19h00)
SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF4 (22h00)
World Cup 2027 play-off matches
Thursday, August 13
Loser QF2 v Loser QF3 (19h00)
Loser QF1 v Loser QF4 (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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