Ghana’s Black Queens have kept their hopes of returning to the FIFA Women’s World Cup alive, coming from behind to beat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in a decisive WAFCON play-off at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Thursday, August 13, 2026.
The result secures Ghana one of Africa’s two places in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Intercontinental Play-Off Tournament, extending a campaign that had appeared over just days earlier.
The two West African rivals met knowing that defeat would end their World Cup ambitions outright. Both sides had missed out on automatic qualification for Brazil 2027 after falling in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, leaving this play-off as the last route back into contention.
A Nervy Start, and a Black Queens Response
Côte d’Ivoire made the brighter start, taking the lead inside four minutes when Inès Konan converted from the penalty spot to put Les Éléphantes ahead. The early setback threatened to compound the disappointment of Ghana’s WAFCON quarter-final exit to Malawi just days before, but the Black Queens steadied and grew into the contest as the half wore on.
Ghana’s response arrived after the interval. Princess Marfo drew the Black Queens level in the 59th minute, restoring parity and shifting the momentum of the tie. With the match delicately poised, Germany-based forward Josephine Bonsu stepped up in the 72nd minute to convert a penalty of her own, completing the turnaround.
Thursday’s victory arrives on the back of a difficult week for the Black Queens. Ghana had entered the 2026 WAFCON in Group D alongside Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde, navigating the group stage to reach the knockout rounds.
A 2-1 quarter-final defeat to WAFCON debutants Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on Sunday, August 9 ended Ghana’s hopes of a semi-final berth and, with it, one of Africa’s four automatic tickets to the 2027 World Cup.
What Comes Next for the Black Queens
Victory does not deliver a World Cup ticket outright, it opens the door to a longer and more demanding qualification path. Ghana now advances to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Intercontinental Play-Off Tournament, where they will be joined by the winner of the parallel African play-off between Nigeria and South Africa, alongside four sides from CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and UEFA.
Ghana’s Remaining Path to Brazil 2027
Preliminary Phase: Nov–Dec 2026
Three matches against fellow play-off qualifiers to determine the four teams advancing to the final phase.
Final Phase: Feb 2027
Six teams split into three knockout pathways; each pathway winner earns a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The stakes remain considerable. A first Women’s World Cup appearance since 2007 following consecutive editions in 1999, 2003 and 2007 is now within Ghana’s reach, but two further stages of knockout football stand between the Black Queens and a return to the World Cup
The Path Ahead
Phase One of the Intercontinental Play-offs will feature six teams competing in a league phase format. The confirmed participants for this stage are:
· Uzbekistan (AFC)
· Chinese Taipei (AFC)
· Ghana (CAF)
· One additional CAF representative
· Venezuela (CONMEBOL)
· Ecuador (CONMEBOL)
· Papua New Guinea (OFC)
Phase One Format
In the first phase, the six participating teams will play three matches each in a league format. The top two finishers from this stage will advance to the final phase of the Intercontinental Play-offs .
The final phase, scheduled for February 2027 at another centralized venue, will see the two qualifiers joined by four additional teams two from CONCACAF, one from CONMEBOL, and one from UEFA to contest the remaining three spots available for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil .