The Black Queens of Ghana have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after finishing the group stage with four points.
Ghana’s journey to the last eight mirrored their qualification campaign at the previous edition, where they also progressed with four points.
The Black Queens opened their Group D campaign with an impressive 2-0 victory over tournament debutants Cape Verde before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their second outing. Needing at least a point to progress, the Queens held Mali to a 1-1 draw in their final group match—a repeat of the scoreline between the two sides at the previous WAFCON group stage.
The result saw Ghana finish with four points from one win, one draw and one defeat, enough to secure a place in the knockout stage.
Interestingly, the Black Queens followed a similar path in the 2024 edition of the tournament. On that occasion, they recovered from an opening defeat to South Africa, drew 1-1 with Mali and defeated Tanzania in their final group game to also advance with four points.
Captain Portia Boakye played a pivotal role in Ghana’s qualification campaign and was deservedly named Most Valuable Player for her outstanding performances and leadership.
The Black Queens will now turn their attention to a quarter-final showdown against tournament debutants Malawi on Sunday, August 9. Having impressed on their first appearance at the continental showpiece, Malawi will be aiming to continue their fairytale run, while Ghana will be determined to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2016.
With a place in the last four at stake, the quarter-final promises to be a fiercely contested encounter as the Black Queens continue their quest for continental glory.
By: Victoria Kwofie
