The first two WAFCON 2026 quarter-finals have been confirmed after four very different group-stage campaigns reached the same destination.
Morocco and Algeria progressed from Group A after conceding only one goal between them. Côte d’Ivoire won Group B on their return to the tournament after 12 years away, while South Africa recovered from collecting one point across their opening two matches to finish second.
Those routes now cross in the knockout stage. Côte d’Ivoire will face Algeria before hosts Morocco meet South Africa on 8 August.
Morocco Progress but Senegal Expose a Problem
Morocco completed Group A unbeaten and without conceding, but their goalless draw with Senegal was far less comfortable than the final table suggests.
The hosts controlled 70 per cent of possession and recorded five shots on target to Senegal’s two. None proved enough to beat Adji Ndiaye.
The Senegal goalkeeper produced the defining moment in the 69th minute when she saved Yasmin Mrabet’s penalty. After the kick was ordered to be retaken, Ndiaye denied the same player again.
Two penalty saves within the same passage kept Senegal’s qualification hopes alive, although Algeria’s victory over Kenya eventually made the result insufficient.
For Morocco, the draw delivered first place but also introduced the first meaningful concern of their campaign. Jorge Vilda’s side scored four times against Kenya and found a late winner against Algeria, yet they could not convert control into a goal against Senegal’s compact defence.
That becomes more significant in knockout football, where one missed opportunity can alter an entire tournament. Three clean sheets provide Morocco with an excellent foundation, but the attack will need greater precision against South Africa.
Algeria Remove the Final-Round Uncertainty Early
Algeria began their match against Kenya knowing Senegal could still threaten their position. Within 23 minutes, they had taken control of their own qualification.
Marine Dafeur opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a long-range free-kick that left Lilian Awuor unable to intervene. Lynda Bendris then turned Algeria’s pressing into a second goal, closing down the goalkeeper and finishing after forcing the error.
Kenya improved after the interval, but Algeria had already created the separation they needed. Eight shots on target underlined the difference in attacking threat, even though Kenya managed four of their own.
The 2-0 victory gave Algeria six points and second place, with their only group-stage defeat coming through Morocco’s late goal in the previous round.
Algeria leave the section having scored four times and conceded once. They have not needed to dominate every match because their defensive organisation and ability to capitalise on decisive moments have repeatedly protected them. That formula will be tested by the highest-scoring team in Group B.
Côte d’Ivoire Return as Group Winners
Côte d’Ivoire’s first WAFCON appearance since 2014 has already developed into much more than a welcome return. The Lady Elephants collected seven points, remained unbeaten and scored eight goals, the most in either Group A or Group B.
Their 2-1 victory over Tanzania confirmed first place through another influential performance from Inès Konan. She created Nsira Ouedraogo’s opening goal in the 44th minute before converting a penalty herself in the 68th.
Tanzania held 46 per cent of possession but registered only one shot on target. Côte d’Ivoire produced seven, giving them enough control of the dangerous areas to prevent Diana Msewa’s stoppage-time penalty from changing the outcome.
Konan has become one of the central figures in the Lady Elephants’ campaign. Her two goals against Burkina Faso gave Côte d’Ivoire their opening victory, and her goal and assist against Tanzania ensured they finished the job.
Across the three matches, Côte d’Ivoire have shown more than attacking quality. They responded to South Africa’s late comeback to preserve a 2-2 draw and then handled the pressure of a decisive final fixture.
Their quarter-final place is not built on one unexpected result. Seven points and eight goals establish them as a genuine tournament threat.
One Kgatlana Goal Rescues South Africa
South Africa entered the final round at the bottom of Group B. Defeat against Tanzania and a draw with Côte d’Ivoire had left the former champions needing to beat Burkina Faso. Thembi Kgatlana delivered the goal that rescued their campaign.
Fikile Magama’s pass found the forward in the 21st minute, allowing Kgatlana to finish from close range. Neither team would record another shot on target.
That statistic captures the tension of South Africa’s situation. They did not overwhelm Burkina Faso or suddenly rediscover their best attacking football. They found one clear opportunity and defended it with enough discipline to reach the quarter-finals.
Burkina Faso pushed for an equaliser after the break, but South Africa prevented their attacking intent from becoming clear chances.
Banyana Banyana finish the group with four points and an even goal difference. It is not the campaign they would have planned, but their tournament remains alive because they responded when another poor result would have ended it.
Tanzania and Burkina Faso Leave Different Impressions
Tanzania and Burkina Faso both finished with three points, with Burkina Faso placed third through their head-to-head victory.
Tanzania’s elimination should not erase the significance of their tournament. Their opening win over South Africa was their first at WAFCON 2026, and they scored in all three group matches.
The red card shown to Hasnath Ubamba against Burkina Faso proved costly beyond that defeat because it ruled her out of the deciding match against Côte d’Ivoire. Tanzania remained competitive but could not produce the victory required to advance.
Burkina Faso also made history by recording their first WAFCON win, beating Tanzania 2-1. Their final match showed the margins separating progress from elimination: one South African shot on target produced the only goal.
Both teams demonstrated that Group B was more competitive than its final standings might indicate. Neither, however, found enough consistency to follow their landmark victories with qualification.
Morocco vs South Africa Brings Different Pressures
Morocco will enter their quarter-final having won Group A with seven points, five goals and three clean sheets. South Africa arrive after surviving a section in which they conceded in every match and only secured qualification through the final result.
The hosts possess the stronger group-stage record, but South Africa’s tournament experience and Kgatlana’s ability to decide matches give the fixture a different pressure from anything Morocco faced in Group A.
Senegal demonstrated that Morocco can be frustrated when an opponent remains compact and denies central space. South Africa must now decide whether to follow a similar defensive plan or take greater attacking risks than their recent performances have supported.
Morocco’s defensive record makes them favourites. Their missed penalties provide South Africa with a reason to believe.
Côte d’Ivoire’s Attack Meets Algeria’s Organisation
The earlier quarter-final presents a cleaner tactical contrast. Côte d’Ivoire scored eight goals across their three matches and produced multiple attacking contributors. Algeria conceded only once and recorded clean sheets against Senegal and Kenya.
Konan and Ouedraogo will attempt to disrupt a defence that has rarely been forced out of shape. At the other end, Algeria can test whether Côte d’Ivoire’s attacking ambition leaves spaces available in transition.
One team returned to WAFCON and immediately became the highest scorer across the first two groups. The other progressed by making almost every opposition chance difficult.
Whichever strength survives will produce the tournament’s first semi-finalist.
Final Group A Table WAFCON 2026
| Position | Team | Played | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco | 3 | +5 | 7 |
| 2 | Algeria | 3 | +3 | 6 |
| 3 | Senegal | 3 | −1 | 4 |
| 4 | Kenya | 3 | −7 | 0 |
Final Group B Table WAFCON 2026
| Position | Team | Played | GD | Points |
| 1 | Côte d’Ivoire | 3 | +4 | 7 |
| 2 | South Africa | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Burkina Faso | 3 | −3 | 3 |
| 4 | Tanzania | 3 | −1 | 3 |
Burkina Faso finish above Tanzania because they won their head-to-head meeting 2-1.
Confirmed WAFCON 2026 Quarter-Finals
Both matches will be played on 8 August 2026.
- Côte d’Ivoire vs Algeria — 19:00 CET
- Morocco vs South Africa — 22:00 CET
Source: CAF
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