Malawi have turned a fast start from Ghana into a historic comeback.
Ghana struck first. Malawi answered almost immediately. Then, with the quarterfinal hanging in the balance, Rose Kadzere delivered the decisive blow.
The 2-1 victory in Rabat on Sunday sends Malawi into the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semifinals and guarantees them a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Ghana Strike First
Ghana needed only seven minutes to break the deadlock.
Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah met the ball with a volley and sent it into the net, giving Ghana an early advantage and putting Malawi on the back foot.
But the lead lasted just five minutes.
Malawi Hit Back
Malawi quickly restored parity when Temwa Chawinga’s effort took a deflection and found its way into the Ghanaian goal.
At 1-1, the contest settled into a closely fought battle. Neither side could create the breakthrough that would decide the quarterfinal.
That changed in the closing stages.
Kadzere Delivers the Winner
With the clock approaching the 80-minute mark, Rose Kadzere surged into the penalty area and finished beyond Ghana goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan.
The strike put Malawi 2-1 ahead in the 79th minute—and suddenly Ghana were chasing the game.
Ghana pushed hard for a late equaliser, but Malawi defended their advantage and saw out the remaining minutes.
The comeback was complete.
Semifinal—and World Cup Qualification
Malawi’s reward is a place in the last four, where they will face Algeria in Casablanca on Wednesday.
The other semifinal will see hosts Morocco take on Cameroon in Rabat.
There is also a much bigger prize attached to reaching this stage.
All four semifinalists have secured automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The teams that lost their quarterfinals are not out of the World Cup race, however. They will have another route through African and intercontinental playoff opportunities.
For Malawi, though, the equation is already settled: a comeback win, a WAFCON semifinal, and a place on the road to the 2027 World Cup.