2026 WAFCON: Algeria and Morocco already in the semis — the full recap

The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations is being held in Morocco from July 26 to August 16, featuring 16 teams for the first time, split into four groups of four. The tournament's biggest stake: the four semi-finalists will earn direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. After a hard-fought group stage, two of the four quarter-finals have already been decided, with the remaining two being played this Sunday, August 9.

The 16 qualified teams, by group

• Group A: Morocco (hosts), Algeria, Senegal, Kenya
• Group B: Ivory Coast, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Tanzania
• Group C: Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi
• Group D: Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde

Group stage results and standings

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

Final standings: 1. Morocco (7 pts), 2. Algeria (6 pts), 3. Senegal (4 pts), 4. Kenya (0 pts).

Group B

• South Africa 1-2 Tanzania
• Ivory Coast 4-1 Burkina Faso
• South Africa 2-2 Ivory Coast
• Burkina Faso 2-1 Tanzania
• Burkina Faso 0-1 South Africa
• Tanzania 1-2 Ivory Coast

Final standings: 1. Ivory Coast (7 pts), 2. South Africa (4 pts), 3. Burkina Faso (3 pts), 4. Tanzania (3 pts).

Group C

• Zambia 6-0 Egypt
• Nigeria 2-3 Malawi
• Egypt 1-3 Malawi
• Nigeria 1-0 Zambia

Nigeria and Malawi advance to the quarter-finals.

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

Cameroon and Ghana advance to the quarter-finals.

Quarter-finals: results and schedule

• Saturday, August 8 — Algeria 2-1 Ivory Coast (Stade Moulay Rachid, Casablanca): after Ivory Coast's Inès Konan opened the scoring (29') and N'Sira Ouédraogo was sent off (42'), Algeria turned the match around through Inès Khiri (58') and Ould Braham (64'), reaching a Cup semi-final for the first time in their history and securing direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup.
• Saturday, August 8 — Morocco 2-1 South Africa (Stade Moulay El Hassan, Rabat): Soukaina Ouzraoui (31') and Hanane Ait El Haj (52') put the Atlas Lionesses ahead before Thembi Kgatlana pulled one back late on (67'). Morocco confirmed their spot in the semi-finals and at the 2027 World Cup.
• Sunday, August 9, 6:00 PM — Cameroon vs Nigeria (Stade Larbi Zaouli, Casablanca)
• Sunday, August 9, 9:00 PM — Malawi vs Ghana (Stade Al Madina, Rabat)

The semi-finals so far

Morocco will face the winner of Cameroon vs Nigeria, while Algeria will take on the winner of Malawi vs Ghana.

Key facts

• 16 teams split into 4 groups, a first for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
• The 4 semi-finalists earn direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
• Algeria and Morocco, already through to the semi-finals, will also play at the 2027 World Cup.
• Cameroon vs Nigeria and Malawi vs Ghana will complete the semi-final picture this Sunday, August 9.