Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon, and Malawi don all qualify for di 2027 Women’s World Cup wey go take place for Brazil. Di four teams reach di semi-finals of di Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) wey dey Morocco, and di tournament dey double as World Cup qualifier.
Algeria be di first team to book dia ticket. Dem beat Ivory Coast 2-1 for di quarter-final, but e no easy. Ivory Coast don score first through Ines Konan for di 30th minute. But Safietou Ouedraogo, wey be one of di tournament stars, bin get red card before half-time. Algeria take advantage, Ines Khiri score di equalizer for di 59th minute, and Amira Ould Braham add di winner five minutes later. Two goalkeeping errors from Ivorian keeper Aramatou Diakite help Algeria. Na dia first time to reach Wafcon semi-final and first time to qualify for Women’s World Cup.
Morocco, di host, also beat South Africa 2-1. Sakina Ouzraoui Diki open scoring for di 31st minute, and Hanane Ait El Haj double di lead from penalty spot for di 51st. Thembi Kgatlana pull one back for South Africa for di 67th minute, but Morocco hold on. Dis go be dia second World Cup after dia debut for 2023 when dem reach round of 16.
Cameroon get di win over Nigeria wit a spectacular 30-yard free-kick from 19-year-old Myriam Nyadjou. Na only goal of di match. Di win mean Cameroon don also qualify for di World Cup, and dem go meet Morocco for semi-final.
But di biggest shock na Malawi. Dem be 153rd for world rankings, but dem beat Ghana 2-1. Ghana score first, but Temwa Chawinga and Rose Kadzere score to turn di match around. Malawi don qualify for dia first Women’s World Cup ever, and dem go play Algeria for semi-final.
Di semi-finals go hold on Wednesday. Morocco go face Cameroon, and Algeria go meet Malawi. But di four teams wey lose for quarter-final – Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and South Africa – still get chance. On Thursday, Ivory Coast go play Ghana, and Nigeria go face South Africa. Di winners of those two matches go go into di 10-nation intercontinental play-offs for November and December. From those 10, three go qualify for di World Cup.
Apart from Africa, some other teams don already qualify. From Asia, Australia, China, Japan, North Korea, Philippines, and South Korea. From Europe, Denmark, France, Germany, and Spain. New Zealand from Oceania, and from South America, Argentina, Brazil (as hosts), and Colombia. So far, 18 teams don book dia place for di 32-nation tournament wey go start on 24 June 2027 and end on 25 July.
