WAFCON 2026: Ghana set up quarter-final date with Malawi after Mali stalemate

Ghana booked their place in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 after battling to a 1-1 draw against Mali in their final Group D match on Thursday.

The Black Queens needed only to avoid defeat to keep their hopes alive, and they held on to secure second place in the group despite a spirited second-half fightback from Mali at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.

Evelyn Badu gave Ghana the lead in first-half stoppage time, but Kadidiatou Diabate equalised shortly after the restart to leave qualification hanging in the balance until the final whistle.

Badu puts Ghana in control

With both teams beginning the night on three points, the stakes were high as victory would guarantee a place in the knockout stage.

After a closely contested opening period, Ghana broke the deadlock in the third minute of added time when Comfort Yeboah delivered a pinpoint cross that Badu headed into the net.

The goal handed the Black Queens a crucial advantage heading into the interval and moved them a step closer to the quarter-finals.

Mali respond after the break

Mali returned for the second half with renewed determination and found an equaliser just five minutes after the restart.

Diabate’s free-kick took a decisive deflection off the Ghanaian wall before finding the back of the net, setting up a tense finish as Mali searched for the winner they needed to progress.

Both sides pushed for a decisive goal, but neither could find the breakthrough in the closing stages.

Ghana keep World Cup hopes alive

The draw, combined with Cape Verde’s 1-1 stalemate against Cameroon in the other Group D fixture, saw Cameroon finish top of the group with seven points.

Ghana claimed second place on four points, edging out Mali on goal difference, while Cape Verde ended their maiden tournament with one point.

The result keeps alive Ghana’s hopes of lifting the continental title and qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Under Swedish coach Kim Lars Björkegren, the B