Black Queens Advance to WAFCON Quarter-finals After Mali Stalemate
Ghana’s Black Queens have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after earning a 1-1 draw against Mali in their final Group D fixture in Morocco.
The crucial point saw Ghana finish second in the group with four points, edging out Mali on goal difference after both nations ended the group stage level on points.
Knowing that a draw would be enough to progress, the Black Queens approached the contest with determination and eventually broke the deadlock deep into first-half stoppage time.
Evelyn Badu put Ghana ahead with a well-taken header after meeting an inviting cross from 19-year-old defender Comfort Yeboah. The goal gave the Black Queens a valuable advantage heading into the interval.
Mali responded almost immediately after the restart. Kadidiatou Diabate’s free kick took a deflection off Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah before wrong-footing goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan and finding the back of the net to restore parity.
The equaliser ensured a tense closing period as Mali pushed for the winner they needed to stay in the competition. Ghana, however, remained disciplined at the back and held firm to preserve the draw.
Elsewhere in Group D, Cameroon were held to a 1-1 draw by tournament debutants Cape Verde. Already assured of top spot before kick-off, the Indomitable Lionesses finished the group with seven points.
Cape Verde exited the tournament but had reason to celebrate after claiming their first-ever point at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, having lost their opening two matches.
The draw left Ghana and Mali tied on four points, but the Black Queens progressed to the knockout stage thanks to their superior goal difference, ending Mali’s hopes of reaching a third consecutive WAFCON quarter-final.
Ghana will now take on Malawi in the quarter-finals on Sunday, August 9, at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca. With the knockout stage now underway, the Black Queens remain in contention for what would be their first WAFCON title after finishing third at the last edition.