2026 Women’s AFCON Qualifiers: Black Queens cruise, Algeria topple Cameroon
Ghana, Algeria and Malawi took contrasting steps toward the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s AFCON 2026 after a dramatic qualifying night across Africa.
The Black Queens overpowered Egypt 3–0 in Cairo to seize control of their tie. In Luanda, Angola and Malawi cancelled each other out in a cagey 0–0 that leaves everything riding on the return leg in Lilongwe.
Algeria produced the day’s statement result, defeating Cameroon 2–1 in Bir El Djir after a first-half red card tilted the contest.
All three ties will be decided next week with group-stage qualification in sight.
Ghana lay down the law in Cairo
In Cairo, the Black Queens leaned on experience and ruthlessness. Against an attractive but fragile Egypt side, Ghana managed the game from start to finish to win 3–0.
It was Doris Boaduwaa who broke the deadlock just before half-time (42’), rewarding clear visiting dominance.
The ZFK Spartak Subotica forward met a right-wing cross first time, leaving the Egyptian goalkeeper rooted.
After the break, Ghana showed maturity—soaking up pressure before accelerating late on.
Mavis Amponsah (85’) doubled the lead with a powerful strike from the edge of the area, before Grace Asantewaa sealed it on 90 minutes with a classy combination and finish.
A convincing victory puts Ghana in an ideal position before the return in Accra. For Egypt, it was a sobering defeat.
Despite occasional flashes down the flanks, their bite in the final third was missing. An away-leg turnaround will require something monumental.
A
ngola and Malawi: verdict deferred to Lilongwe
In Luanda, Angola and Malawi could not be separated (0–0). The match was intense but disjointed, lacking the technical precision to truly catch fire.
The Scorchers created the better chances, notably through Tabitha Chawinga, whose pace repeatedly stretched the Angolan back line. Twice, goalkeeper Rosa Ilunga produced the saves required to keep the hosts level.
Angola rallied late on. Youngster Carla Vunge crashed a 79th-minute effort against the bar—symbolic of a team still searching for accuracy with the final touch.
Everything now shifts to Lilongwe, where Malawi will count on home support and a marginal edge thanks to their defensive rigour and collective organisation.
Algeria tame Cameroon
The day’s marquee moment came in Bir El Djir, where Algeria claimed a precious 2–1 win over Cameroon.
Fueled by a high-octane first half, the Greens struck through Ghoutia Karchouni and Marine Dafeur—two moments of clinical quality.
On 23 minutes, Karchouni, the Inter Milan playmaker, opened the scoring with an unstoppable angled drive.
Cameroon, solid until then, were rocked 10 minutes later when defender Claudia Dabda was sent off (34’) for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
From the resulting free-kick, Marine Dafeur whipped a stunning strike into the top corner (35’) for 2–0—a gem that sent the stadium into raptures and rewarded Algeria’s progressive approach under a rising generation.
Down to ten, Cameroon pushed through Ajara Nchout Njoya’s experience.
The Al-Qadsiah forward reduced the deficit from the spot (90+4’), but the response came too late to change the outcome.