Algeria and Morocco secure 2027 Women’s World Cup qualification
Algeria and Morocco have both secured their places in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Their qualification was confirmed after victories in their respective Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-final matches. Both North African teams earned automatic qualification by advancing to the WAFCON semi-finals, adhering to the established tournament rules.
Algeria achieved a historic qualification for the global tournament by defeating Côte d’Ivoire 2-1. This marks Algeria’s first-ever appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Morocco also secured their spot with a 2-1 victory over South Africa.
Algeria’s Path to Qualification
Algeria’s match against Côte d’Ivoire took place at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca. Côte d’Ivoire initially took the lead in the 29th minute through Ines Konan. However, the match saw a significant turn when N’Sira Ouedraogo of Côte d’Ivoire was sent off before half-time, reducing her team to ten players. This red card, issued for kicking Algeria goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi in the face, proved to be a pivotal moment in the game.
Algeria capitalised on their numerical advantage in the second half. Substitutes Ines Khiri and Amira Braham scored two goals within six minutes, just before and after the hour mark, to shift the momentum in favour of the North African side. Between Algeria’s goals, Côte d’Ivoire missed an opportunity to regain the lead when Rebecca Elloh hit the post from a penalty kick. Algeria, who had barely threatened in the first 45 minutes, took control after the break, creating numerous chances.
This victory means Algeria will make their debut at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Prior to this, Algeria had won two group-stage matches at the same WAFCON edition for the first time and collected six points, their highest total in a WAFCON group stage. They had previously earned five points at the prior edition. Algeria has also lost only one of their last seven WAFCON matches in open play, recording three wins and three draws, with their only defeat in that sequence being a 1-0 loss to Morocco in their second group match at the current edition.
Algeria has maintained six clean sheets in their last seven WAFCON matches, conceding only once. This is their second appearance in the knockout rounds and their second in succession. Their only previous knockout match resulted in a 0-0 draw against Ghana in the 2024 quarter-finals, which Algeria lost 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out. Marine Dafeur and Inès Belloumou failed to convert their penalties in that match.
Dafeur has scored twice in the current tournament, finding the net in Algeria’s first and third group matches. Another goal would make Dafeur the first Algerian player to score three times at a single WAFCON. She is the fourth Algerian player to score twice at one edition, following Nouria Affak in 2014, Naïma Bouhani in 2006, and Nabila Imloul in 2004. Algeria has scored four goals at the current finals, equalling their highest total at a single edition, first achieved in 2004. Lynda Bendris scored Algeria’s second goal in their victory over Kenya, marking her first WAFCON goal. Bendris scored with her only shot on target.
Morocco’s Qualification and Remaining Spots
Morocco secured their qualification by defeating South Africa. The match between Côte d’Ivoire and Algeria was the first meeting between the two nations at the WAFCON. Côte d’Ivoire had played all their matches at the current finals in Casablanca, while Algeria played all three of their group-stage matches in Rabat.
Two additional African nations will join Algeria and Morocco at the 2027 World Cup. These spots will be determined after the remaining WAFCON quarter-finals. Cameroon is scheduled to face Nigeria, while Malawi will play against Ghana. The winners of these matches will automatically secure World Cup qualification.
Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa, despite their quarter-final losses, still have a chance to qualify for the World Cup through the FIFA Play-Off Tournament. These two defeated quarter-finalists will meet in a play-off match on August 13. The winner of this match will advance to the 2027 World Cup, along with one of the other two losing quarter-finalists. The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup is set to be held in Brazil.
Côte d’Ivoire had progressed beyond the group stage for the second time in their third tournament appearance, having also done so in 2014. Their only group-stage elimination occurred on their tournament debut in 2012. They completed a WAFCON group stage undefeated for the first time and are unbeaten in their last four WAFCON matches, a run that began with a 1-0 victory over South Africa in the 2014 third-place play-off. Their record during this sequence is three wins and one draw.
They conceded three goals in the group stage, their fewest in a WAFCON group campaign. They scored eight group-stage goals, their most at a single edition. Their highest total at a WAFCON is nine goals in 2014. They finished a WAFCON group stage with a positive goal difference for the first time. This is the second time they have reached the knockout rounds. Their first knockout match ended in a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Cameroon in the 2014 semi-finals. Côte d’Ivoire then defeated South Africa 1-0 in the 2014 third-place play-off, with Ida Guehai scoring the winner in the 84th minute. They have scored in all 11 of their WAFCON matches.
Côte d’Ivoire progressed as Group B winners, defeating Burkina Faso 4-1 and Tanzania 2-0 in their first and final matches respectively, with a 2-2 draw against South Africa in between. They kept their first clean sheet of the current tournament in the victory over Tanzania. N’Sira Ouedraogo scored the opening goal against Tanzania and has two goals at the current finals. Ouedraogo also provided an assist against Tanzania, marking the second time at the tournament she had scored and assisted in the same match, having also done so in the opening victory over Burkina Faso. Ouedraogo has three assists and five goal involvements, having scored twice. She has registered a goal involvement in each of Côte d’Ivoire’s three matches. Akissi Konan scored Côte d’Ivoire’s second goal against Tanzania and is the second Ivorian player to score at least three goals at a single WAFCON. Inès N’Rehy scored four in 2012 and three in 2014. Another goal would make Konan the first Ivorian player to score in three different matches at the same edition. Victory would have taken coach Reynald Pedros to his second WAFCON semi-final, having guided Morocco to second place in 2022.
Algeria will face either Malawi or Ghana in the WAFCON semi-finals.
Source: punchng.com
Emeka Nwosu 