Ghana overturn Cote d’Ivoire deficit to take final route to 2027 World Cup

Cote d’Ivoire’s hopes of reaching the 2027 Women’s World Cup have ended after Ghana came from behind to win 2-1 in the African play-offs in Casablanca.

The result at Stade Larbi Zaouli means Cote d’Ivoire will not advance to the intercontinental play-offs and cannot qualify for next year’s tournament in Brazil.

Cote d’Ivoire had to beat Ghana on Thursday to keep their World Cup campaign alive. They had already lost their chance of securing automatic qualification after being eliminated by Algeria in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

That defeat came on 8 August, when Algeria won 2-1. Cote d’Ivoire therefore entered the play-off against Ghana knowing victory was essential if they were to remain in contention for one of the places available through the intercontinental route.

They made the ideal start in Morocco when Ines Konan converted a penalty in the fourth minute. The goal took her tournament tally to five and gave Cote d’Ivoire an early advantage.

However, Ghana turned the match around in the second half. Princess Dankwa Marfo levelled in the 59th minute before Josephine Bonsu completed the comeback from the penalty spot 13 minutes later.

The defeat was suffered by Reynald Pedrosse’s side in the absence of Nsira Ouedraogo, who was suspended. Despite taking the lead, the Elephantes were unable to hold on as the Black Queens secured the victory that ended Cote d’Ivoire’s remaining path to the World Cup.

Cote d’Ivoire’s wait for another appearance at the finals will now continue. The Elephantes have not featured at a Women’s World Cup since their only previous participation in 2015, meaning they have gone 11 years without returning to the competition.

Their elimination also completes a disappointing sequence in the space of two matches. After the loss to Algeria ended their hopes of direct qualification, the defeat by Ghana brought their hopes of reaching the intercontinental play-offs to a definitive close.

Ghana’s victory came despite conceding first and leaves Cote d’Ivoire with no opportunity to compete for a place at the 2027 finals in Brazil. The Black Queens’ success in the African play-offs ended a 13-minute period in which the match shifted decisively in their favour, with Marfo’s equaliser followed by Bonsu’s winning penalty.

For Cote d’Ivoire, the early goal from Konan ultimately proved insufficient. Their World Cup campaign ended in Casablanca, while their absence from the finals will extend beyond the 11-year gap since the team last appeared at the tournament.