There was drama, excitement and last-minute suspense as Africa’s top women’s national teams battled through the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026.
Surprise package Malawi impressed by reaching the knockout stage on their debut, while former champions Nigeria and South Africa also secured their places in the quarter-finals.
The competition now moves into the knockout stage on August 8 and 9, with the eight remaining teams fighting for places in the semi-finals and automatic qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
The quarter-finals will begin on Saturday, August 8, at Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca. Côte d’Ivoire will face Algeria at 18h00 local time (17h00 GMT).
Côte d’Ivoire impressed during the group stage and will hope to continue their good run against Algeria. The Algerians have reached the quarter-finals and will be hoping to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
The action will then move to Rabat, where hosts Morocco will face South Africa at Stade Moulay Hassan at 21h00 local time (20h00 GMT).
The match will be a repeat of the 2022 TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON final, which South Africa won 2-1.
Sunday’s action will begin at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca with a big match between Cameroon and record 10-time champions Nigeria.
The Indomitable Lionesses went through the group stage unbeaten and will now face the Super Falcons in one of the biggest quarter-final matches.
The final quarter-final will take place at Stade Al Madina in Rabat, where surprise package Malawi will face Ghana.
Malawi reached the knockout stage on their first appearance at the tournament and will hope to continue their amazing run against the Black Queens.
The four teams that win their quarter-final matches will move into the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON Morocco 2026. They will also move one step closer to winning Africa’s biggest women’s football trophy.
