Four African teams qualify for 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup via WAFCON semi-finals

Nigerians Online News Desk August 10, 2026

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The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco is doubling as Africa’s qualifying pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The four teams that reach the semi-finals earn automatic places at the tournament in Brazil.

Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon and Malawi have already secured their tickets after winning their quarter-finals. Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa remain in contention through the play-off route.

Algeria claimed a first-ever World Cup qualification with a 2-1 comeback victory over Côte d’Ivoire. Ines Khiri and Amira Ould Braham scored the goals that completed the turnaround and booked the Fennecs’ debut at the global finals.

Hosts Morocco advanced with a 2-1 win over South Africa. Sakina Ouzraoui Diki and Hanane Ait El Haj were on target as the Atlas Lionesses guaranteed a third successive World Cup appearance while keeping their continental title hopes alive on home soil.

Cameroon produced one of the tournament’s biggest results by defeating defending champions Nigeria 1-0. Nineteen-year-old Myriam Nyadjou scored the decisive long-range goal, ending the Super Falcons’ defence of their African title and securing Cameroon’s place in Brazil.

Malawi completed the quartet with a 2-1 victory over Ghana. Temwa Chawinga equalised after Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah had given Ghana the lead, before Rose Kadzere scored the winner. The result delivered Malawi’s first-ever qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The semi-finals will now decide the continental champion: Morocco face Cameroon, while Algeria meet Malawi. The four teams already eliminated from WAFCON still have a path. Côte d’Ivoire will play Ghana and Nigeria will face South Africa in African play-offs. The two winners will join a 10-team intercontinental play-off, from which three more nations will qualify for Brazil.

The tournament structure is clear. Reaching the WAFCON semi-finals is the most direct route. For the remaining four African sides, the play-off path is longer and less certain. Algeria and Malawi arrive as debutants; Morocco and Cameroon return with recent World Cup experience. The semi-finals will determine the African champion, but the four automatic places for 2027 are already settled.