Algeria have qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after beating Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Their victory has taken Algeria through to the semi-finals of the continental competition and guaranteed them one of Africa’s four automatic places at next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
The quarter-final stage of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations provides the route to those four direct qualification spots. By reaching the last four, Algeria have achieved both their immediate tournament objective and their wider ambition of appearing at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Algeria’s next match could be against Ghana, with a semi-final meeting between the two sides dependent on the Black Queens winning their quarter-final against Malawi on Sunday.
Ghana reached the knockout phase after drawing 1-1 with Mali in their final Group D fixture. That result was enough to secure the Black Queens’ progress to the last eight, where they will now face Malawi for a place in the semi-finals.
Malawi advanced as Group C winners after ending the group stage level on six points with Nigeria and Zambia. Their position at the top of the section set up the quarter-final tie against Ghana and left them within two victories of reaching the final of the competition.
The match with Ghana represents an opportunity for Malawi to continue their run in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and challenge for a place in the next round. It also carries the added significance of World Cup qualification, with the tournament’s semi-finalists securing automatic berths at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Ghana, meanwhile, will be seeking to keep their own campaign alive on both fronts. The Black Queens are competing for continental honours while also pursuing qualification for the World Cup in Brazil.
If Ghana overcome Malawi, Algeria will meet them in the semi-finals. That would give the two teams a direct contest for a place in the final, while also continuing a tournament in which Algeria have already secured their place on the global stage.
For now, Algeria’s win over Cote d’Ivoire confirms their qualification and leaves the remaining quarter-final results to determine the full semi-final line-up. Ghana must first negotiate their tie with Malawi before a meeting with Algeria can be confirmed.
