Four African nations book 2027 Women's World Cup spots
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- Algeria beat 10-player Ivory Coast 2-1, with goals from Ines Khiri and Amira Ould Braham after N'Sira Oudraogo's red card, to reach the Wafcon last four and qualify for a Women's World Cup for the first time ever.
- Morocco defeated South Africa 2-1 with goals from Sakina Ouzraoui Diki and Hanane Ait El Haj to claim their spot.
- Cameroon beat Nigeria 1-0 courtesy of a 30-yard free-kick from 19-year-old Myriam Nyadjou.
- Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world, pulled a major upset beating Ghana 2-1 with second-half goals from Temwa Chawinga and Rose Kadzere after falling behind.
- The four quarter-final losers — Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Africa — still have a route to the World Cup through a 10-nation intercontinental play-off in November and December, from which three teams will qualify.
- The 2027 tournament in Brazil will feature 32 nations running June 24 to July 25, and 18 of those spots are now filled; England, Republic of Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all remain alive via European play-offs from October to December.
Why it matters: Algeria's first-ever qualification and Malawi's upset as the 153rd-ranked team in the world show the Women's World Cup field is genuinely broadening beyond traditional powers, while established African heavyweights Nigeria and South Africa now face a win-or-bust intercontinental play-off to keep their Brazil 2027 hopes alive.
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