Mali/Ghana: Ghana Survive Mali Fightback to Secure Women's Afcon Quarter-Final Place
Ghana's women's national football team secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations after a 1-1 draw against Mali. The result allowed Ghana to advance as the second-place team in Group D, keeping their hopes alive for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Why it matters
This tournament is a critical pathway for African teams to qualify for the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup, highlighting the growth of women's sports in the region.
Ghana secured their place in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 after battling to a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Mali in a tense Group D decider on Thursday.
The Black Queens knew that avoiding defeat would almost certainly be enough to progress to the knockout stages, and they did just that despite being forced to withstand a spirited second-half fightback from a determined Mali side at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
Evelyn Badu looked to have put Ghana firmly on course for qualification when she struck deep into first-half stoppage time after being picked out by Comfort Yeboah. However, Kadidiatou Diabate restored parity five minutes after the restart to set up a nervy finish as Mali chased the victory they needed to reach the last eight.
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