Overview
- Malawi beat Algeria 3-1 in the semifinal with Tabitha Chawinga scoring twice and sister Temwa adding a goal to send tournament debutants into Sunday’s final in Rabat.
- Cameroon eliminated host Morocco after a scoreless draw and a 3-1 penalty shootout, with keeper Michaely Bihina making multiple saves and Morocco missing a late spot kick in extra time.
- The four WAFCON semifinalists—Cameroon, Malawi, Morocco and Algeria—have all qualified automatically for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
- In Casablanca on Thursday, South Africa defeated Nigeria 2-1 and Ghana beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to advance from continental one-off playoffs into the inter-confederation preliminary round while Nigeria and Ivory Coast were eliminated, ending Nigeria’s run of World Cup appearances.
- CAF’s expanded 16-team WAFCON doubled as Africa’s qualifier by awarding four direct berths to semifinalists and sending quarterfinal losers through a continental playoff then a multi-stage inter-confederation tournament, a structure that has rewarded surprise performers and shifted the region’s balance of power.