Ghana’s Black Queens have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after playing out a 1-1 draw with Mali in their final group-stage match on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

The result was enough to send the 2024 bronze medalists through to the last eight, where they will face Malawi on Sunday, August 9, 2026.

Ghana started brightly and created the early opportunities, with Asantewaa delivering a teasing cross in the 11th minute that was gathered by the Mali goalkeeper.

The Black Queens continued to push forward as they searched for the opening goal, with their attacking pressure increasing as the first half progressed.
Their persistence finally paid off in first-half stoppage time.

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Comfort Yeboah produced a neat piece of build-up play before sending a cross into the path of Evelyn Badu, who glanced a header beyond the Malian goalkeeper to give Ghana the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Mali responded strongly after the break and restored parity in the 50th minute.
Kadidiatou Diabate's free-kick took a deflection off Ghana midfielder Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, changing direction and beating goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan to make it 1-1.

Konlan was called into action again shortly afterwards, safely gathering a long-range effort from Mali as Ghana came under pressure.

Neither side could find a winner as the match ended level, with the draw enough to secure Ghana's passage into the quarter-finals with four points.

The Black Queens will now turn their attention to Malawi, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.



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