Ghana booked a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after battling to a 1-1 draw against Mali in their decisive Group D clash on Thursday.
The Black Queens needed only to avoid defeat to keep their knockout hopes alive and achieved that target despite a spirited second-half comeback from Mali at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
Evelyn Badu handed Ghana the advantage deep into first-half stoppage time, calmly finishing after being set up by Comfort Yeboah to send her side into the break with a crucial lead.
Mali responded immediately after the restart as Kadidiatou Diabate found the net five minutes into the second half, reviving her team’s hopes of progressing to the last eight.
The result, combined with Cameroon and Cape Verde’s 1-1 draw in the other Group D fixture, saw Cameroon finish top of the group with seven points, while Ghana advanced in second place with four points.
Mali also ended on four points but missed out on qualification due to an inferior goal difference, while tournament debutants Cape Verde finished bottom with one point.
Both teams approached the contest cautiously, knowing the high stakes attached to the encounter.
Ghana controlled much of the possession in the opening half, while Mali remained compact and threatened on the counterattack.
Mali suffered an early setback when Aïssata Kanté was forced off with an injury after 22 minutes, prompting an early tactical adjustment from coach Birama Konaté.
Despite Ghana’s dominance, chances were limited until Badu’s late first-half strike gave the Black Queens the breakthrough they desperately needed.
Mali returned from the interval with renewed urgency and quickly restored parity through Diabate, setting up a tense finish as both sides searched for the decisive goal.
Ghana coach Kim Lars Björkegren introduced Stella Nyamekye, Doris Boaduwaa, Linda Owusu and Ajegipina Zakaria in a bid to inject fresh energy into his attack, while Mali also made attacking substitutions as they chased the victory required for qualification.
Neither side could find a winner in the closing stages, leaving Ghana to celebrate qualification at the final whistle while Mali’s campaign ended in disappointment despite collecting four points.
The Black Queens will now face Malawi in the quarter-finals as they continue their bid for continental success and a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
