Sports · Godfred Anku Kaali

Black Queens exit WAFCON, miss automatic World Cup qualification after Malawi defeat

The Ghana Black Queens have missed out on automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil after losing 2-1 to tournament debutants Malawi in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The Black Queens made a bright start to the game, with Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah giving Ghana the lead in the seventh minute.

However, the lead lasted just five minutes, as Malawi forward Temwa Chawinga equalised in the 12th minute.

Malawi then completed the comeback in the 79th minute when midfielder Rose Kadzere scored the winning goal to secure a 2-1 victory for the Scorchers.

The victory marks another extraordinary milestone for Malawi’s women’s national team. Competing at their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the Scorchers have exceeded expectations by reaching the semi-finals and securing a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

For Ghana, the defeat is a major setback to their hopes of returning to the global finals for the first time since 2007.

However, the Black Queens remain in contention for a place at the World Cup.

Under the tournament’s qualification format, the four quarter-final losers of the WAFCON, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, will compete in an African play-off.

Ghana will face Côte d’Ivoire, while Nigeria will take on South Africa, with both matches scheduled for Thursday, August 13.

The winners of the two play-off matches will advance to the FIFA Women’s World Cup intercontinental play-offs, where they will have another opportunity to secure qualification for Brazil 2027.