Black Queens secure WAFCON quarterfinal spot with hard-fought Mali draw

Ghana's Black Queens have secured their passage to the quarterfinals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, booking a last-eight tie against Malawi following a closely contested 1-1 draw with Mali on Thursday evening in Morocco.

The result ensures the Black Queens finish second in their group, qualifying them automatically for the knockout phase of the continental championship. Evelyn Badu opened the scoring for Ghana in the first half with a well-executed header from Comfort Yeboah's cross, but Mali equalised five minutes into the second period when substitute Kadidiatou Diabate converted from a free kick, catching goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan off guard.

A tightly contested encounter

Ghana dominated large portions of the match, with striker Doris Boaduwaa, winger Grace Asantewaa and midfielder Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah all coming close early on as they pressed for an opening. Mali's goalkeeper kept them at bay until Badu's breakthrough in the 39th minute, which looked set to give the Black Queens control of the game.

However, the Malian response was swift and effective. Diabate's set-piece goal, following a Mali free kick, showed the unpredictability of the knockout format and the danger of conceding from dead-ball situations. Ghana had further opportunities to retake the lead, most notably when Boaduwaa headed narrowly wide from close range, and Badu saw a second goal correctly disallowed for offside.

Coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren made tactical adjustments during the match, introducing fresh legs in the form of Stella Nyamekye, Linda Owusu Ansah and Zakaria Ajegipina as Ghana pushed for a winner that never materialised.

What this means for Ghana's campaign

The draw represents a solid foundation for the Black Queens as they head into the knockout phase. Finishing second in the group stage means they will face Malawi in the quarterfinals on Sunday, 9 August, in Rabat. This pairing offers Ghana a realistic path toward the semi-finals, though any slip-up in a one-legged tie could prove costly.

The tournament has demonstrated Ghana's competitive strength in African women's football, but also highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in maintaining leads and converting dominant periods into victories. The Mali result, whilst securing qualification, will likely prompt reflection from Bjorkegren's technical staff on set-piece vulnerability and finishing efficiency ahead of the knockout hurdle.

Ghana's next opponents, Malawi, will present a different tactical challenge, and the Black Queens will need to bring their best form to advance further in the competition.