Morocco, Algeria reach WAFCON semifinals and qualify for FIFA World Cup

play Live Sign upShow navigation menuNavigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedSportOpinionVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomyHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelSponsored Contentplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upSport|FootballMorocco, Algeria reach WAFCON semifinals and qualify for FIFA World CupThe North African nations become the first teams from the continent to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Brazil. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoMorocco's Sakina Ouzraoui celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2026 CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal against South Africa in Rabat, Morocco, on August 8, 2026 [Jalal Morchidi/EPA]By AFPPublished On 9 Aug 20269 Aug 2026A triumphant night for North Africa has seen hosts Morocco and Algeria reach the Women’s Africa of Nations (WAFCON) semifinals and the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. They took contrasting paths on Saturday to quarterfinals success as Morocco built a two-goal lead, then defended resolutely against South Africa for a 2-1 victory in Rabat. Algeria fell behind against the Ivory Coast in Casablanca, then took advantage of their opponents having a player sent off to score twice and emerge 2-1 winners. In the semifinals on Wednesday, Morocco will face defending champions Nigeria or Cameroon while Algeria will tackle Ghana or giant killers Malawi. No North African nation has won the marquee African women’s football tournament, which has been dominated by Nigeria with 10 titles. The only other countries to become WAFCON champions since the tournament’s debut in 1998 have been Equatorial Guinea twice and South Africa once. Morocco, runners-up to South Africa four years ago, led after 31 minutes, thanks to a second goal in the tournament from Sakina Ouzraoui. Hanane Ait El Haj increased the lead six minutes into the second half by converting a penalty. South African star Thembi Kgatlana then netted on 67 minutes to set up a tense finish. In Casablanca, Ines Konan put the Ivorians ahead on 29 minutes, but they were reduced to 10 players before half-time when teenager N’Sira Ouedraogo was sent off. Algeria struck twice within six minutes just before and after the hour mark through substitute Ines Khiri and Amira Braham to turn the match in their favour. Between the Algerian goals, Ivory Coast squandered a chance to regain the lead when Rebecca Elloh struck the post from a penalty. The red-carding of 18-year-old Ouedraogo for kicking Algeria goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi in the face, proved pivotal as her team lost the ascendancy they established during the opening half. After barely threatening to score during the first 45 minutes, Algeria took control after the break and created enough chances to have won more decisively. Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: