WAFCON 2026 — South Africa, Ghana keep FIFA World Cup 2027 hopes alive with playoff wins
Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to South Africa means the Super Falcons will miss the World Cup for the first time since the tournament’s inauguration in 1991.
The four semifinalists – Cameroon, Malawi, Morocco and Algeria – have all qualified directly for next year’s tournament in Brazil. Cameroon and tournament debutant Malawi will contest the WAFCON final on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
South Africa and Ghana clinched Africa’s two spots in an intercontinental playoff to qualify for the Women’s World Cup with wins over Nigeria and Ivory Coast on Thursday.
Ghana came from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 earlier as the four beaten quarterfinalists at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations were pitted against each other to decide which two progress to the World Cup intercontinental playoffs.
The four semifinalists – Cameroon, Malawi, Morocco and Algeria – have all qualified directly for next year’s tournament in Brazil. Cameroon and tournament debutant Malawi will contest the WAFCON final on Sunday.
South Africa needed patience against Nigeria until a moment of brilliance from Ronnel Donnelly sent Hildah Magaia through to square the ball for Thembi Kgatlana to score in the 56th.
Team captain Refiloe Jane seemed to seal the result when she scored with a deflected shot in the 77th. However, she was sent off with her second yellow card in stoppage time for stopping a goal-bound shot with her arm.
Christy Ucheibe scored the resultant penalty to set up a tense finale. South Africa goalkeeper Kaylin Swart stretched out her left boot to deny Michelle Alozie an equalizer at the end.
Defeat for Ivory Coast means missing out on what would have been its second World Cup appearance after 2015, while Ghana can maintain its hope of a fourth participation and first since 2007.
The Black Queens got off to a bad start Thursday with Princess Marfo penalized for an apparent foul on Ivorian captain Bernadette Amani in the area in the first minute.
Inès Konan kept her cool despite a three-minute delay for a VAR check and duly dispatched the penalty to open the scoring for Ivory Coast.
Ghana thought it had equalized early in the second half when goalkeeper Océane Lamfir flapped at a cross and Evelyn Badu squared the loose ball to Stella Nyamekye, who fired into the unguarded net. The goal was disallowed, however, after a VAR check deemed Lamfir still had control of the ball.
Princess finally headed in the equalizer before the hour mark, and Josephine Bonsu got the Black Queens’ winner from the penalty spot in the 72nd after Aboa Yapo was penalized for hand ball – again after a VAR check – when Grace Asantewaa’s shot hit her arm.
Two teams from Africa and two from Asia will vie with one each from Oceania and South America in the first phase of the World Cup intercontinental playoffs at a centralized venue in November and December.
The top two from those six will advance to the second phase in February 2027, when they will face a country from Europe, another from South America, and two from the CONCACAF region to determine the final three qualifiers for the tournament.
Latest on Sportstar
- Live Blog
2026-08-14T07:18:40+05:30
AUS vs BAN, 1st Test Day 2 LIVE updates: Hazlewood dismisses Mominul on 49 after frustrating first hourTeam Sportstar - WAFCON 2026 — South Africa, Ghana keep FIFA World Cup 2027 hopes alive with playoff winsAP
- Canadian Open 2026 — Swiatek brushes past Rybakina to secure Toronto titleReuters
Bitterness and disorder: Argentina rears its ugly head in World Cup final defeat to Spain
Football’s American Odyssey: How FIFA World Cup 2026 and United States consumed each other
Ayon Sengupta
+ SEE all Stories
More on Women’s Football
- WAFCON 2026 — South Africa, Ghana keep FIFA World Cup 2027 hopes alive with playoff winsAP
- WAFCON 2026 — Cameroon to face surprise qualifier Malawi in finalAP
- WAFCON 2026 — Cameroon, Malawi clinch semifinal, FIFA World Cup spots on day of upsetsAP
Latest on Sportstar
- Live Blog
2026-08-14T07:18:40+05:30
AUS vs BAN, 1st Test Day 2 LIVE updates: Hazlewood dismisses Mominul on 49 after frustrating first hourTeam Sportstar - WAFCON 2026 — South Africa, Ghana keep FIFA World Cup 2027 hopes alive with playoff winsAP
- Canadian Open 2026 — Swiatek brushes past Rybakina to secure Toronto titleReuters
