Black Queens Face Mali for Place in 2026 WAFCON Quarter-Finals

Nana Yaw
August 6, 2026
Football, AFCON, Black Stars, Football, Sports

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Black Queens Face Mali for Place in 2026 WAFCON Quarter-Finals

Ghana’s Black Queens will face Mali on Thursday evening in a decisive Group D fixture at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with a place in the quarter-finals on the line.

The match will be played at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT.

Cameroon have already secured qualification to the knockout stage after winning their opening two matches to top the group with six points. That leaves Ghana and Mali, who are both on three points, battling for the second automatic qualification spot.

Black Queens Hold Slight Advantage

The Black Queens enter the final group match in second place thanks to a superior goal difference.

Ghana opened their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Cape Verde before narrowly losing 1-0 to Cameroon. Mali, meanwhile, bounced back from an opening defeat to Cameroon with a 3-2 win over Cape Verde.

As a result, Ghana need only a draw to secure qualification for the quarter-finals, while Mali must win to advance to the last eight.

High Stakes for Ghana

The fixture presents another important test for head coach Kim Lars Björkegren, who is seeking to guide the Black Queens back to the latter stages of Africa’s premier women’s football tournament.

Ghana have impressed with their defensive discipline and organised performances during the group stage, but converting scoring opportunities will be crucial against a Mali side known for its physical approach and dangerous counterattacks.

Experienced players including Portia Boakye, Jennifer Cudjoe and Doris Boaduwaa are expected to play leading roles as the Black Queens aim to keep their tournament hopes alive.

World Cup Qualification Also at Stake

Progressing to the quarter-finals would move Ghana one step closer to another major objective beyond continental success.

The four teams that reach the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will qualify automatically for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, making every knockout match increasingly significant.

With qualification hanging in the balance, Thursday’s encounter promises to be one of the defining matches of Ghana’s campaign as the Black Queens seek to continue their journey in Morocco.