Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon and Malawi have secured their places at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
This year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco doubles as World Cup qualifying, with all semi-finalists earning automatic berths.
Algeria reached their first Women’s World Cup by beating a 10-player Ivory Coast 2-1. Ines Khiri and Amira Ould Braham scored after N’Sira Oudraogo was sent off with the Ivorians leading 1-0.
Morocco booked their spot with a 2-1 win over South Africa thanks to goals from Sakina Ouzraoui Diki and Hanane Ait El Haj. Cameroon advanced by edging Nigeria 1-0, courtesy of a stunning 30-yard free-kick from 19-year-old Myriam Nyadjou.
Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world, produced a major upset by coming from behind to defeat Ghana 2-1, with goals from Temwa Chawinga and Rose Kadzere.
The Wafcon semi-finals are on Wednesday: Morocco face Cameroon, and Algeria meet Malawi.
Quarter-final losers Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and South Africa still have a route to the World Cup. On Thursday, Ivory Coast play Ghana and Nigeria take on South Africa, with the winners advancing to November–December’s 10-team intercontinental play-offs.
From those play-offs, three nations will qualify for next summer’s World Cup, which runs from 24 June to 25 July.