WAFCON Quarter-Finals Put 2027 Women’s World Cup Qualification on the Line
- Aug 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 8
Casablanca and Rabat, Morocco — Saturday 8 August 2026
Four places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil will be decided this weekend as the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations moves into the quarter-final stage, with hosts Morocco among eight teams chasing direct qualification.
Unlike previous editions, reaching the WAFCON final is not required to book a World Cup spot. Whoever wins each of the four quarter-finals goes straight through to Brazil. The four losing sides are not eliminated from World Cup contention either; they will get a second chance in a playoff round on 13 August.
Saturday’s fixtures
Ivory Coast face Algeria at 18:00 local time at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, followed by Morocco against South Africa at 21:00 at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
Ivory Coast topped Group B without dropping a point, while Algeria progressed as one of the tournament’s surprise packages, having already knocked out fancied opposition on their way to the last eight. Morocco, meanwhile, arrive unbeaten and yet to concede a goal, and will start as favourites in front of a home crowd against a South African side who finished runners-up at the last edition.
Sunday’s fixtures
Cameroon meet Nigeria at 18:00 at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, before Malawi take on Ghana at 21:00 at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.
The Cameroon-Nigeria tie is being billed as the standout fixture of the round. Nigeria, WAFCON’s record champions, arrive in form after thrashing Egypt 6-2 in their final group match, having earlier beaten Zambia. Cameroon finished top of Group D unbeaten. Malawi, appearing at WAFCON for the first time, have been one of the stories of the tournament and will fancy their chances against a Ghana side leaning on tournament experience.
What comes next
The four quarter-final winners advance to the semi-finals on 12 August. A third-place play-off follows on 15 August, with the final at the Rabat Olympic Stadium on 16 August.
For the four countries who fall short this weekend, the road to Brazil is not yet closed. They return to the pitch on 13 August in a playoff round that keeps World Cup qualification alive.
Coverage of the tournament is available on Channel 4 in the UK, and free via CAF’s YouTube channel in territories without a local broadcaster.
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