2026 WAFCON: All you need to know ahead of Ghana-Malawi game

Ghana’s Black Queens will face Malawi in a high-stakes WAFCON quarter-final on Sunday, with a place in the semi-finals and a return to the Women’s World Cup within touching distance.

Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT, with Ghana heading into the contest with confidence after a convincing 4-0 victory over Malawi in their final pre-WAFCON friendly in Casablanca just two weeks ago.

But this is a different game, with far more at stake.

The Black Queens know that victory would not only send them into the last four of the tournament but also secure Ghana’s first Women’s World Cup qualification since 2007.

That prize adds another layer of pressure to an already intriguing rematch.

Ghana will also draw encouragement from their record against teams making their WAFCON debut. In nine previous meetings with debutants, the Black Queens have won eight times and lost just once.

That solitary defeat came against Nigeria in the inaugural WAFCON final in 1998, when all the participating teams were competing in the tournament for the first time.

However, Ghana will be wary of reading too much into history or their recent friendly win.

Malawi will have had the 4-0 defeat firmly in mind during their preparations, and the knockout stage offers a chance to produce a very different performance. With the semi-finals at stake, there is little room for mistakes.

For Ghana, the challenge will be to turn their recent dominance into another complete performance when it matters most.

The Black Queens have the opportunity to move one step closer to a major milestone: ending a near two-decade wait for a place at the Women’s World Cup.

One game, one opportunity, and a World Cup ticket within reach.

Favorite team to win

Ghana enter the quarter-final as favourites after their emphatic 4-0 friendly win over Malawi, but knockout football can quickly change the script.

The Black Queens will be looking to impose themselves early, while Malawi will hope to show that their previous meeting is no indication of what they can produce in a competitive fixture.

For Ghana, the stakes could hardly be higher. Win, and they advance to the semi-finals and secure their return to the Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2007.

Lose, and their campaign and their World Cup dream is over.

The rematch is on.

Jamaldeen Wiayuka

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