Egypt will have been encouraged by the latest round of warm-up matches ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 after Group B rivals Ghana were held to a goalless draw by Tanzania, while Cote d’Ivoire bounced back from defeat with a narrow victory over Mali.
With the tournament set to kick off on 26 July, teams across the continent are putting the finishing touches to their preparations in Morocco, using their final friendly matches to assess tactics, sharpen fitness and build momentum before the race for continental glory begins.
For Ghana, it proved to be a frustrating afternoon as the Black Queens were unable to find a breakthrough against a disciplined Tanzanian side in a tactical contest that ended 0-0.
Ghana dominate possession but Tanzania stand firm
The Black Queens controlled much of the possession from the opening whistle and dictated the tempo for long periods, but they struggled to convert their superiority into clear-cut chances.
Tanzania’s well-organised defensive shape frustrated Ghana’s attacking players throughout the contest, limiting opportunities in and around the penalty area despite sustained pressure.
Whenever possession changed hands, Tanzania remained dangerous on the counter-attack, using their pace and organisation to keep Ghana alert at the back.
Neither side could find the decisive moment, leaving both coaches with valuable lessons just days before the tournament begins.
For Ghana, the result highlighted both their ability to dominate possession and the need for greater cutting edge in the final third as they prepare for a demanding Group D campaign against Cape Verde, Cameroon and Mali.
Cote d’Ivoire respond with morale-boosting victory
Elsewhere, Cote d’Ivoire produced the perfect response to their recent defeat against Ghana by securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mali at the Berrechid Municipal Stadium.
The Elephants entered the match needing a positive result to restore confidence ahead of their return to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and they delivered a determined display.
The breakthrough arrived just before half-time when Grâce Ruth Sery made the most of a scoring opportunity in the 42nd minute, firing an unstoppable effort into the net to give Cote d’Ivoire the lead.
It proved to be the decisive moment of the match.
Mali responded strongly after the interval, increasing the intensity and applying sustained pressure in search of an equaliser.
However, Cote d’Ivoire’s central defenders stood firm under the physical challenge, producing a disciplined defensive performance to preserve their advantage until the final whistle.
Although the margin of victory was narrow, it provided a timely confidence boost for Reynald Pedros’ side as they prepare for their return to the continental stage following a lengthy absence.
Egypt continue preparations
The results complete another important phase of preparations as the countdown to Morocco 2026 enters its final days.
While Ghana will look to improve their attacking efficiency and Cote d’Ivoire will take confidence from returning to winning ways, Egypt will continue monitoring the form of fellow contenders across the continent as they fine-tune their own plans for the tournament.
With the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations set to begin this weekend, the latest friendly results suggest that margins between Africa’s leading teams remain extremely fine, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most competitive editions of the competition.
