By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
Four trailblazing African nations have seized a historic opportunity to book their places at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon and Malawi have rewritten the landscape of African women’s football. The ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is doubling as a high-stakes qualifying tournament where reaching the semi-finals guarantees automatic entry.
Algeria Breaks New Ground
Algeria achieved a monumental milestone by reaching the tournament’s last four. They overcame a resilient opponent in a hard-fought contest. Algeria beat a 10-player Ivory Coast squad 2-1 to secure their spot. The turning point arrived after a red card was shown to N’Sira Oudraogo while the Ivorians held a 1-0 advantage. Showing immense resilience, Algeria responded swiftly. Goals from Ines Khiri and Amira Ould Braham completed the turnaround. This remarkable victory sends Algeria to a Women’s World Cup for the very first time.
Hosts and Cameroon Shine
Morocco continued their formidable tournament run with another stellar performance. Goals from Sakina Ouzraoui Diki and Hanane Ait El Haj powered the host nation forward. They defeated South Africa 2-1 to claim their rightful place among the elite. Meanwhile, Cameroon produced a stunning upset in Casablanca. They secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over continental powerhouse Nigeria. The decisive moment came via a spectacular 30 yard free kick from 19-year old Myriam Nyadjou. This monumental win handed Cameroon their ticket to Brazil while ending Nigeria’s streak of appearing in every single previous global finals.
Malawi Completes Fairytale Run
Malawi authored the most astonishing chapter of the tournament. Ranked 153rd in the world, the debutants caused a massive shock. They came from behind to defeat Ghana 2-1 in a thrilling encounter. English born striker Chantelle Boye Hlorkah had given Ghana an early lead in the 7th minute. Malawi refused to buckle under pressure. Temwa Chawinga leveled the score in the 12th minute with a crucial equalizer. Rose Kadzere then sealed the fairytale triumph by scoring a 79th minute winner. This incredible comeback booked Malawi their first ever place at the global tournament.
Upcoming Semi Finals and Play Off Routes
The continental tournament now moves into its decisive phase. The semi-finals will take place on Wednesday in Rabat. Morocco will take on Cameroon in a blockbuster clash. Algeria will face Malawi in the other high stakes fixture. The journey is not over for the four quarter-final losers. Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Africa retain a path forward. On Thursday, Ivory Coast will play Ghana while Nigeria faces South Africa. The two winners will advance to the ten nation intercontinental play offs scheduled for November and December. Out of those 10 countries in the play-offs, three will qualify for next summer’s World Cup, which begins on June 24th and ends on July 25th. Three additional spots remain available through that grueling qualification channel.
Global Picture and Tournament Details
Across the globe, the field for the 32 nation tournament is rapidly taking shape. 18 qualifiers are now officially known. So far the countries that have qualified for the 2027 Women’s World Cup are:
Africa – Algeria, Cameroon, Malawi, Morocco.
Asia – Australia, China, Japan, North Korea, Philippines, South Korea.
Europe – France, Germany, Spain, Denmark
Oceania – New Zealand.
South America – Brazil (hosts), Argentina, Colombia
