Four African teams qualify for World Cup
Algeria, Cameroon, Malawi, and Morocco have all secured their qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Brazil. Their qualification was determined by their performance in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), where reaching the semi-finals guarantees a place in the global tournament.
Algeria advanced to the Wafcon last four, marking their first qualification for a Women’s World Cup. They achieved this by defeating Ivory Coast 2-1. The goals for Algeria came from Ines Khiri and Amira Ould Braham, after N’Sira Oudraogo was sent off for Ivory Coast when they were leading 1-0.
Morocco also secured their spot with a 2-1 victory over South Africa, with goals contributed by Sakina Ouzraoui Diki and Hanane Ait El Haj. Cameroon earned their qualification by beating Nigeria 1-0, thanks to a goal from Myriam Nyadjou.
In a notable upset, Malawi, ranked 153rd globally, overcame Ghana 2-1. They came from behind with goals from Temwa Chawinga and Rose Kadzere to claim their place in the World Cup.
Upcoming Wafcon semi-finals and play-offs
The Wafcon semi-finals are scheduled to feature Morocco against Cameroon, followed by Algeria meeting Malawi. These matches will determine the finalists of the continental tournament.
The teams that were defeated in the Wafcon quarter-finals—Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and South Africa—still have an opportunity to qualify for the World Cup. On Thursday, Ivory Coast will play Ghana, and Nigeria will face South Africa.
The winners of these two matches will proceed to the 10-nation intercontinental play-offs, which are set to take place in November and December. From these play-offs, three additional teams will qualify for the World Cup.
Several European nations, including England, Republic of Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, are also in contention for qualification through the European play-offs. These play-offs are scheduled from October to December, and each of these five teams would need to win two two-legged ties to qualify.
Teams already qualified
The 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil will feature 32 nations. Currently, 18 qualifiers have been confirmed. The qualified teams so far include:
- Africa: Algeria, Cameroon, Malawi, Morocco
- Asia: Australia, China, Japan, North Korea, Philippines, South Korea
- Europe: Denmark, France, Germany, Spain
- Oceania: New Zealand
- South America: Argentina, Brazil (hosts), Colombia
The World Cup tournament is scheduled to begin on 24 June and conclude on 25 July.
Algeria’s defensive strength
Algeria‘s journey to qualification has highlighted their defensive capabilities. In the Wafcon 2026, they conceded only one goal during the group stages, a record that was joint second best in the tournament. This defensive solidity has been a consistent feature, with Algeria conceding only once in regular time across their last seven Wafcon matches.
The team’s goalkeeper, Chloe N’Gazi, has been a key player, maintaining six clean sheets in Algeria‘s last seven Wafcon games. N’Gazi, who plays for Montpellier in France, has been a significant presence for the squad both on and off the pitch.
Algeria‘s head coach, Farid Benstiti, has observed the team’s growth over the past three years. He noted that the players are highly motivated, with many representing their country with pride, and are committed to performing for the team. This commitment is seen as a crucial ingredient for success in high-level football.
The match against Ivory Coast was anticipated to be a challenging encounter, with both teams aiming for an automatic World Cup slot. Ivory Coast‘s head coach, Reynald Pedros, acknowledged Algeria as a strong team in the Wafcon 2026, praising their style of play. He emphasised the need for his team to be defensively strong and mentally resilient.
Algeria‘s match against Ivory Coast marked their 11th Wafcon game against a West African nation, having previously recorded three wins, two draws, and five defeats in such fixtures. They have remained unbeaten in their last three Wafcon matches against West African teams, with one win and two draws.
Source: bbc.com
