Ghana’s Black Queens have been eliminated from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) following their quarter-final defeat to Malawi on Sunday, August 9.
The defeat brings an end to Ghana’s campaign at the tournament and denies the Black Queens a place in the semi-finals.
Ghana had entered the knockout stage after finishing second in Group D with four points. The team secured qualification to the quarter-finals after a 1-1 draw with Mali in their final group game, with Evelyn Badu scoring Ghana’s goal.
The quarter-final was particularly significant as a place in the semi-finals would have guaranteed qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Ghana had arrived in Morocco with renewed optimism after a strong preparation period. The Black Queens defeated Malawi 4-0 in a pre-tournament friendly, with Doris Boaduwaa scoring a hat-trick.
However, that result could not be replicated when the two sides met in the decisive knockout encounter.
The elimination means Ghana will once again have to wait for another opportunity to end their long-standing wait for a first WAFCON title.
The Black Queens have previously reached the final of the competition three times but have yet to lift the trophy. Their latest campaign had raised hopes that the team could make another deep run after their bronze-medal finish at the previous edition.
Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren had named a squad combining experienced players including captain Portia Boakye, Grace Asantewaa, Evelyn Badu, Jennifer Cudjoe and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, alongside emerging talents such as Doris Boaduwaa and Stella Nyamekye.
For Ghana, attention will now turn to rebuilding ahead of the next international assignments, while Malawi advance to the semi-finals and continue their impressive run at the tournament.
