Malawi completed one of the greatest stories in the history of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Ghana 2-1 on Sunday to secure a historic place in the semi-finals and qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 for the first time.
A dramatic second-half winner from Rose Kadzere capped another unforgettable night for the tournament debutants, whose remarkable run continued after earlier victories over defending champions Nigeria and Egypt in the group stage.
Having topped Group C on their maiden appearance, the Scorchers have now become one of only a handful of debutants to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s AFCON, while simultaneously booking one of Africa’s four automatic places at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
For Ghana, the defeat was a bitter blow to their hopes of returning to the global finals for the first time since 2007. However, the Black Queens remain in contention for a World Cup place and will now face Côte d’Ivoire in the African play-off, with the winner advancing to the FIFA Women’s World Cup intercontinental play-offs.
Ghana’s World Cup hopes remain alive
While the Black Queens were left devastated by the defeat, their World Cup ambitions have not yet ended.
Under the tournament’s qualification format, the four losing quarter-finalists progress to an African play-off. The two winners of those play-off matches will then qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup intercontinental play-offs, where they will have another opportunity to secure places at Brazil 2027.
Ghana will now face Côte d’Ivoire in one of those decisive African play-off fixtures, knowing victory would keep alive their hopes of returning to the Women’s World Cup for the first time in two decades. For Malawi, however, Sunday belonged entirely to the Scorchers.
From tournament debutants to World Cup qualifiers in the space of two remarkable weeks, they have produced one of the most memorable stories in Women’s AFCON history and will now continue their dream run in the semi-finals with a place among the continent’s elite already secured.
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