The knockout stage of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations kicked off Saturday, and the first two quarter-finals delivered in full. Between Algeria’s historic breakthrough and Morocco’s long-awaited revenge, this was one of the most intense days the tournament has produced so far in Morocco.
At Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca, Côte d’Ivoire and Algeria fought a battle to the very end. The Ivorians, favorites on paper after topping their group, held the upper hand for more than an hour of play. A first goal was ruled out for offside, but the Elephants kept pushing and eventually broke through when Inès Konan struck in the 30th minute a fair reflection of a first half they had largely controlled under coach Reynald Pedros.
The game turned just before the break. Safi Ouédraogo was sent off after a VAR review flagged a dangerous challenge on the Algerian goalkeeper, leaving Côte d’Ivoire to play the entire second half a player down. It proved decisive. Buoyed by their numerical advantage, the Algerians took control after the restart. Inès Khiri, freshly introduced from the bench, leveled the score with a sharp strike in the 58th minute. Rebecca Elloh had a chance to restore Côte d’Ivoire’s lead from the penalty spot shortly after, but her effort went wide a costly miss. Six minutes later, Amira Ould Braham unleashed a long-range shot that put Algeria ahead for good, 2-1.
The win carries huge symbolic weight for the Fennecs, who secure their first-ever appearance in a WAFCON semi-final and, with it, a spot at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. A double achievement celebrated across the country, and an individual performance rewarded too: Amira Ould Braham was named player of the match.
Hours later, attention shifted to the eagerly anticipated clash between Morocco and South Africa at Stade Moulay El Hassan in Rabat. The two sides carried recent history into the match, having met three times before always to South Africa’s advantage: a 1-2 defeat for Morocco in the 2022 final, followed by a 0-2 loss in a December 2025 friendly. A jinx the Atlas Lionesses were determined to break at home, in front of their own crowd.
Carried by the roar of Stade Moulay El Hassan, the Moroccans made the difference before halftime through Sakina Ouzraoui, who scored in the 31st minute. The lead was doubled after the break by Hanane Aït El Haj, who converted a penalty in the 51st minute to make it 2-0. South Africa pulled one back later on but could not force a real comeback. Final score: 2-1 for the host nation, which finally settled the score and books its place in the semi-finals, along with direct qualification for the World Cup in Brazil.
The tournament still has plenty in store. On Sunday, August 9, two more quarter-finals will complete the bracket: Cameroon takes on Nigeria, while Malawi, this edition’s surprise package, faces Ghana. Both winners will join Algeria and Morocco in the last four, with the same prize on offer: a ticket to the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
For the beaten sides, the continental journey ends here, but hope for the World Cup does not. Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa, along with Sunday’s two runners-up, will meet in playoffs designed to determine Africa’s two remaining spots in the intercontinental qualifying playoffs. Nothing is lost yet for the Elephants or the Banyana Banyana, though they will have to wait a little longer to learn their fate.
Next up: the semi-finals, before a final scheduled for Sunday, August 16 in Morocco — a host nation now dreaming of its first-ever continental title.
