Ghana booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after earning a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Mali in their decisive Group D clash on Thursday at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
The Black Queens needed to avoid defeat to stay in the tournament, and they achieved that target despite a determined second-half response from Mali. The result, combined with Cameroon’s 1-1 draw against Cape Verde, saw Ghana finish second in Group D with four points, while Cameroon topped the standings with seven.
Ghana entered the match after a narrow defeat to Cameroon in their previous group game, leaving their quarter-final hopes hanging in the balance. Evelyn Badu, who delivered when it mattered most, scored the vital opener in first-half stoppage time after being set up by Comfort Yeboah to give the Black Queens a deserved lead before the interval.
Kim Lars Björkegren’s side controlled large spells of possession in the opening half but found it difficult to break down Mali’s disciplined defence. Mali also suffered an early setback when Aïssata Kanté left the pitch injured after 22 minutes, forcing an early tactical change.
Mali returned for the second half with greater urgency and found an equaliser just five minutes after the restart. Kadidiatou Diabate finished confidently inside the penalty area to revive her side’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
The goal changed the rhythm of the contest as Mali pushed forward in search of the winner they needed. Ghana, however, stayed organised defensively while looking to threaten on the counterattack.
The final whistle confirmed Ghana’s place in the last eight, where they remain in contention for a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Cameroon finished first in Group D with seven points, Ghana claimed second with four, while Mali also ended on four points but missed out on goal difference. Tournament debutants Cape Verde concluded their historic first WAFCON campaign with one point.
Ghana will now turn their attention to the quarter-finals as they continue their pursuit of continental success and a place at football’s biggest global tournament.
© Bold Sports Media. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
