The race for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title is entering its final stretch. This Wednesday, August 12, two matches will determine the tournament’s two finalists, with a particularly anticipated clash between the Atlas Lionesses and Cameroon set to take place at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
The semifinal lineup came together over the weekend. Morocco opened the way by defeating South Africa 2 to 1, a result that also secured their qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Cameroon then delivered the tournament’s biggest upset by eliminating defending champions Nigeria with a narrow one nil victory, courtesy of a goal from Myriam Maeva Nyadjou in the twentieth minute. That performance also punched Cameroon’s ticket to Brazil.
The host nation will now welcome Cameroon later this evening in a match loaded with symbolic weight. Buoyed by home support throughout the competition, the Moroccan players are hoping to take another step forward and reach the final, two years after their memorable run in the previous edition. The ambition is clear: deliver Morocco its first continental title on home soil.
Meanwhile, the other semifinal will pit Algeria against Malawi at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, kicking off earlier in the evening. That matchup also looks wide open, featuring an Algerian side that has steadily improved throughout the tournament and a Malawian team that has surprised everyone by reaching the final four.
Beyond the race for the trophy itself, these semifinals carry added significance since all four teams that reached this stage, Morocco, Cameroon, Algeria and Malawi, have already secured their spots at the next Women’s World Cup in Brazil in 2027. That added stake partly explains the intensity these teams have shown throughout the tournament on Moroccan soil.
Teams eliminated in the quarterfinals still have a shot at World Cup qualification through another route. They will face off in playoff matches in Casablanca starting August 13, offering one last chance to book a place in Brazil.
The tournament will then move into its final phase. The third place match is scheduled for August 15 at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, followed by the grand final on August 16, which will crown the new champion of African women’s football. Should Morocco make it all the way, the tournament could reach its climax in front of a electrified home crowd, with the capital’s stadium turned into a cauldron for the occasion.
For now, all eyes turn to Rabat this Wednesday evening, where two suspenseful matches are set to unfold, with the power to reshape the landscape of African women’s football for years to come.
