Ghana's Black Queens crashed out of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, undone by a stunning fightback from tournament debutants Malawi in a 2-1 quarter-final defeat at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat. The result ends Ghana's automatic qualification hopes for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.
Kim Lars Björkegren's side had scraped into the last eight as Group D runners-up after a 1-1 draw with Mali in their final group match. Malawi, by contrast, arrived full of confidence after already stunning defending champions Nigeria earlier in the tournament.
Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah gave Ghana the perfect start, pouncing on a loose ball to put the Black Queens ahead after seven minutes. The lead lasted just five. Malawi captain and star forward Temwa Chawinga leveled in the 12th minute, her long-range effort taking a heavy deflection past goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan.
Ghana thought they had retaken the lead after the break when Doris Boaduwaa turned home a chance, only for the goal to be ruled out by VAR. The Black Queens pressed for a winner but could not find a way through a well-organized Malawi defense.
The decisive blow arrived in the 79th minute. Rose Kadzere found space inside the box and calmly slotted past Konlan to make it 2-1. Ghana threw players forward in search of an equalizer, but Malawi held on to complete one of the biggest upsets in WAFCON history.
The win caps a remarkable run for the Scorchers, who topped Group C on their tournament debut and now face Algeria in Wednesday's semi-final. It also guarantees Malawi a first-ever World Cup appearance, with WAFCON's four semi-finalists earning automatic qualification for Brazil 2027.
For Ghana, the setback is a heavy one. Missing out at the quarter-final stage means the Black Queens must now find another route back to a World Cup they have not reached since 2007.