– CASABLANCA, Morocco
On Saturday, August 8, 2026, Algeria and the host nation, Morocco, secured automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil by advancing to the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The four teams reaching the tournament's penultimate round earn Africa's direct berths to the global finals, scheduled for June 24 to July 25, 2027.
In Casablanca, Algeria came from behind to defeat Ivory Coast 2–1, securing a historic first-ever appearance at the Women's World Cup. Inès Konan put the Ivorians ahead, but second-half goals from Inès Khiri and Amira Ould Braham completed the comeback for Farid Benstiti's squad. Ivory Coast finished the match with ten players following a red card and also missed a penalty in the second half. This victory also marked Algeria's first-ever qualification for the WAFCON semi-finals.
Later, in Rabat, Morocco defeated South Africa 2–1, confirming their return to the World Cup stage following their 2023 debut, where they reached the Round of 16. Sakina Ouzraoui and Hanane Aït El Haj the latter from the penalty spot put the ‘Atlas Lionesses’ in front before Thembi Kgatlana pulled a goal back for the visitors. The host nation will now face the winner of another quarter-final match to be played later in the semi-finals.
These results mark a standout night for North African women's football. The milestone achieved by Algeria ends a long wait for a place among the global elite, while Morocco continues its rapid rise after reaching consecutive WAFCON finals in previous editions. Both teams are now turning their attention to the remaining knockout rounds of the continental championship while preparing for next summer's World Cup in Brazil, which will feature an expanded field of 32 teams.
Teams eliminated in the quarter-finals, including Ivory Coast and South Africa, retain the possibility of qualifying for the 2027 tournament via an African play-off that leads to the FIFA intercontinental play-off tournament. The remaining WAFCON quarter-final matches will determine the final two automatic African qualifying spots and complete the quota of four direct berths.