For the first time in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the trophy is guaranteed to land in new hands.
Morocco, Algeria, Malawi, and Cameroon have all punched their tickets to the semi-finals of WAFCON 2026 and with them, automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
None of the four has ever lifted the WAFCON trophy, setting the stage for a historic coronation while continental heavyweights Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and Ghana all packed their bags early.
Malawi Write History
No story captures the shift in African women’s football quite like Malawi’s. The Scorchers stunned three-time runners-up Ghana 2-1 in the quarter-finals to book their place in the last four and, far more significantly, secure their first-ever appearance at a FIFA Women’s World Cup. It’s a landmark achievement for a program that entered the tournament as underdogs and leaves it as giant-killers, having already dethroned bigger footballing names on their march through the knockout rounds. Brazil 2027 will mark uncharted territory for Malawian football, and the celebrations back home reflect just how seismic this breakthrough is.
Morocco Ride Home Advantage to History
Hosts Morocco delivered for their fans in Rabat, defeating South Africa 2-1 to reach the semi-finals and, with it, a maiden World Cup berth. Sakina Ouzraoui broke the deadlock in the 31st minute with her second goal of the tournament, and Hanane Ait El Haj doubled the Atlas Lionesses’ advantage six minutes into the second half by converting a penalty. South African talisman Thembi Kgatlana pulled one back on 67 minutes to set up a nervy finish, but Morocco held firm. The result avenges Morocco’s runner-up finish to South Africa four years ago and continues a run that began with the Atlas Lionesses topping Group A, capped by a dramatic goalless draw against Senegal in which goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye saved the same penalty twice.
Algeria Break New Ground
Algeria matched their North African neighbors’ achievement, edging Ivory Coast 2-1 in Casablanca to reach a WAFCON semi-final for the first time in the nation’s history. The Fennecs fell behind early to Ines Konan’s 29th-minute strike, but capitalized after Ivory Coast had a player sent off, scoring twice to complete the turnaround. It’s the latest step in a swift rise for Algeria, who topped their group with a commanding 2-0 win over Kenya Marine Dafeur opening the scoring with a stunning long-range free kick before Lynda Bendris doubled the tally. Algeria and Morocco becoming the first North African nations to qualify for a Women’s World Cup underscores just how far the region’s women’s game has traveled.
Cameroon Complete the Quartet
Cameroon rounded out the semi-final lineup by dumping out defending champions and record 10-time winners Nigeria, courtesy of Myriam Nyadjou’s 19th-minute free kick in a tense 1-0 win in Casablanca. Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina then repelled a string of Nigerian chances to preserve the clean sheet, sealing only Cameroon’s second win over the Super Falcons in 14 WAFCON meetings. The victory sends the Indomitable Lionesses into a semi-final against hosts Morocco on Wednesday in Rabat, with a World Cup spot already banked regardless of the outcome.
The End of an Era
What makes this tournament remarkable isn’t just who advanced it’s who didn’t. Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and Ghana, four of the continent’s most storied women’s football nations, all exited before the semi-finals, a collective changing of the guard that few saw coming.
Their combined absence from the final four throws open a competition long dominated by familiar names; Nigeria alone has won the tournament 10 times since it began in 1998, while Equatorial Guinea and South Africa are the only other champions in the competition’s history.
That streak now faces its sternest test. With Morocco squaring off against Cameroon and Algeria taking on Malawi in Wednesday’s semi-finals, African women’s football is guaranteed a brand-new name on the trophy and four brand new representatives charting a course to Brazil.
The upsets, the underdog runs, and the recordbreaking World Cup debuts all point to the same conclusion: the balance of power in African women’s football is shifting, and WAFCON 2026 will be remembered as the tournament that proved it.
