WAFCON 2024: Quarter-final line-up set after dramatic end to group stage

The group phase of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations came to a thrilling conclusion on Monday, confirming the eight teams that will battle it out in the quarter-finals beginning on Friday, July 18.

The final round of Group C fixtures produced emphatic results.

Reigning champions South Africa stamped their authority with a commanding 4-0 victory over Mali.

Lebogang Ramalepe set the tone with a stunning strike in the 5th minute, followed by Linda Motlhalo Jane’s expertly taken free-kick before the break.

Hildah Magaia and Jermaine Donnelly completed the rout in the second half, securing top spot for Banyana Banyana with seven points.

Ghana joined them in the next round thanks to a 4-1 win over Tanzania.

Princella Adubea opened the scoring in the 12th minute, but the Twiga Stars pulled level just before half-time.

The Black Queens responded strongly, with goals from Grace Asantewaa Kusi (penalty), Alice Kusi Badu, and Sandra Owusu-Ansah Boye-Hlorkah wrapping up an emphatic second-half performance.

Ghana finished second in the group and will now face Algeria in the quarter-finals. Despite the defeat, Mali progressed as one of the two best third-placed teams.

In Group B, Algeria delivered one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.

Competing in their sixth WAFCON, the Fennecs reached the quarter-finals for the first time.

A narrow 1-0 win over Botswana was followed by goalless draws against Tunisia and Nigeria. Algeria’s disciplined defensive performances under Farid Benstiti proved decisive as they finished second in the group.

Nigeria, the eleven-time African champions, topped Group B but failed to impress.

A last-minute win over Botswana and a goalless draw with Algeria raised concerns about their title credentials.

Botswana, meanwhile, grabbed the group’s final quarter-final spot with a dramatic 2-1 win over Tunisia, courtesy of a stoppage-time goal that ended the Carthage Eagles’ campaign.

Group A had wrapped up earlier, with host nation Morocco clinching top spot after a 1-0 win over Senegal, Yasmin Mrabet converting a decisive penalty.

Zambia secured second place with a 3-1 triumph over the Democratic Republic of Congo, who exited the tournament without a point.

Senegal progressed as one of the best third-placed teams and will now face South Africa.

Quarter-final fixtures:

• Nigeria vs Zambia – Friday, 18 July, 5:00 p.m.
• Morocco vs Mali – Friday, 18 July, 8:00 p.m.
• Algeria vs Ghana – Saturday, 19 July, 5:00 p.m.
• South Africa vs Senegal – Saturday, 19 July, 8:00 p.m.

Road to the #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 is set. ????@1xBet_Eng pic.twitter.com/7xq78t0UTL

— CAF Women’s Football (@CAFwomen) July 14, 2025