Ghana’s Black Queens will battle Mali on Thursday, August 6, in a decisive Group D encounter at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with a place in the quarter-finals hanging in the balance.
The high-stakes fixture will be played at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 GMT.
Cameroon have already secured top spot in the group with six points, leaving Ghana and Mali to fight for the second automatic qualification place.
The Black Queens began their campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Cape Verde before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in their second outing.
Mali, meanwhile, bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Cameroon by recording an entertaining 3-2 win over Cape Verde to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Ghana currently occupy second place in Group D on goal difference and require only a draw to progress to the last eight.
Mali, however, must claim all three points to leapfrog the Black Queens and book a place in the quarter-finals.
Beyond qualification for the knockout stage, Thursday’s clash carries even greater significance, as the four teams that reach the semi-finals will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
With a World Cup place also within reach, the Black Queens will be eager to avoid defeat and keep their dream of continental and global success alive.
