WAFCON 2026: Heavyweights Secure Knockout Slots as Matchday Two Concludes
The second round of group stage fixtures at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) concluded with dramatic shifts across the tournament standings.
Regional heavyweights Morocco and Cameroon officially booked their places in the quarter-finals by securing their second consecutive victories.
Meanwhile, traditional powerhouses Nigeria and South Africa staged crucial responses to keep their championship aspirations alive in their respective groups.
In Group C, ten-time champions Nigeria revived their campaign with a gritty 1-0 victory over Zambia, courtesy of an early eighth-minute strike by Asisat Oshoala.
Tournament surprise package Malawi joined the knockout stage puzzle by dispatching Egypt 3-1 to sit comfortably alongside the Super Falcons.
Over in Group D, Cameroon edged past Ghana 1-0 through a clinical Marie Gisèle Ngah Manga penalty, while Mali outlasted Cape Verde 3-2 in a relentless five-goal thriller.
Following the high-stakes conclusion of matchday two, the competitive race for the remaining quarter-final tickets is completely wide open.
Heavyweights Zambia, Ghana, and South Africa all face mandatory, high-pressure final group fixtures to secure automatic progression.
Football fans across the continent now look forward to a blockbuster final round of group stage matches under the lights in Morocco.
