Ghana’s Black Queens must now win a World Cup qualification play-off to reach the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after Malawi came from behind to win their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final 2-1 in Rabat.
Rose Kadzere scored in the 79th minute to complete the Scorchers’ comeback at the Al Madina Stadium on Sunday, 9 August, ending Ghana’s hopes of reaching the WAFCON semi-finals and securing one of Africa’s automatic qualifying places.
The Black Queens will instead face Cote d’Ivoire in Casablanca, with the winners earning a place at the 2027 tournament.
Malawi will meet Algeria in the WAFCON semi-finals on Wednesday, 12 August, at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
Ghana head coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren kept faith with the team that drew with Mali in their final group match. Evelyn Badu and Comfort Yeboah both retained their places in the starting XI.
The Black Queens had finished second in Group D behind Cameroon, while Malawi topped Group C ahead of Nigeria and Zambia.
Ghana made the stronger start and took the lead after only six minutes. Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah reacted fastest when the ball fell to her following a rebound and guided it into the net.
They almost added a second when Badu met a cross from Alice Kusi, but her header went narrowly wide.
Malawi responded quickly, drawing level when Temwa Chawinga’s effort took a significant deflection off Grace Asantewaa. The change of direction left Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan with little chance.
Ghana continued to threaten before half-time. Doris Boaduwaa tested the Malawi goalkeeper with a shot from outside the penalty area, while Konlan had to make an important save at the other end to prevent the Scorchers from moving in front.
The teams went into the break level at 1-1.
The Black Queens appeared to have regained the lead soon after the restart when Boaduwaa found the net, but the goal was disallowed because of an offside decision in the build-up.
Jennifer Cudjoe then went close with a header from a Ghana corner, although her effort did not seriously trouble the Malawi goalkeeper.
Malawi gradually increased the pressure and were rewarded 11 minutes from the end. After a sustained period of possession and attacking pressure, Kadzere finished the move to put the Scorchers ahead for the first time.
Konlan kept Ghana in contention with another crucial save, this time denying Temwa Chawinga. Ghana pushed players forward in search of an equaliser, but could not find a way through before the final whistle.
The result means Ghana will not contest the final four of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and cannot qualify automatically for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup through the tournament.
Their hopes of reaching the global finals remain alive, though, with the play-off against Cote d’Ivoire providing one final route to qualification.
