WAFCON 2026: Ghana face Malawi with World Cup ticket and history on the line

Ghana’s Black Queens will put their World Cup hopes and a chance to end a 20-year wait on the line when they face Malawi in a high-stakes WAFCON 2026 quarter-final on Sunday, August 9.

The winner at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Rabat will secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, giving the decisive knockout clash enormous significance for both nations.

For Ghana, victory would end their long absence from the global showpiece. The Black Queens last appeared at the Women’s World Cup in 2007 and have since been unable to return to the competition.

Malawi are chasing history of their own, with the Scorchers seeking to qualify for their first-ever World Cup.

Ghana booked their place in the last eight after finishing second in Group D following a 1-1 draw with Mali. Evelyn Badu put the Black Queens ahead before Mali equalised early in the second half.

Malawi, meanwhile, emerged as one of the tournament’s surprise packages, topping Group C after recording a notable victory over defending champions Nigeria.

Much of the focus will be on Ghana’s ability to contain the dangerous Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, who combined for five goals during the group stage.

The Black Queens have already beaten Malawi 4-0 in a July friendly, but that result offers limited guidance after the Scorchers made several changes to their squad for the match.

Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren will demand greater efficiency from Ghana’s attack as they seek to secure a historic World Cup return.