By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Morocco secured a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and booked a ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after edging defending champions South Africa 2-1 in a dramatic quarter-final on Saturday.

The Atlas Lionesses took control at the Stade Moulay El Hassan in Rabat through Sakina Ouzraoui, who opened the scoring in the 31st minute after being set up by Hanane Ait El Haj.

Morocco carried their narrow advantage into half-time, but South Africa responded almost immediately after the restart.

Morocco doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute when Hanane Aït El Haj converted from the penalty spot.

South Africa responded through Thembi Kgatlana, who pulled a goal back in the 67th minute, but the defending champions could not find an equaliser as Morocco held on for a 2-1 victory.

The victory sends Morocco into the last four of the continental championship and, more importantly, guarantees their place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The qualification comes from the competition’s format: the four WAFCON semi-finalists receive Africa’s four direct tickets to the 2027 Women’s World Cup, while the four quarter-final losers enter further play-offs for two places in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-Off Tournament.

For Morocco, the achievement represents another significant step in the country’s rapid rise in women’s football. The Atlas Lionesses reached the 2024 WAFCON final, where they lost to Nigeria.

South Africa’s defeat, meanwhile, brings an end to their attempt to defend the continental crown they won in 2022. Banyana Banyana had also reached the semi-finals of the previous WAFCON.

The match also carried particular significance for Kgatlana. The South African forward, who scored the decisive late goal that sent Banyana Banyana to the 2026 WAFCON during qualification, again found the net but could not produce another late rescue act against Morocco.

Morocco’s victory means the hosts remain firmly in contention for their first WAFCON title. They will now await the outcome of the remaining quarter-finals to determine their semi-final opponent.

The 2026 WAFCON, being staged in Morocco from July 25 to August 16, doubles as the African qualifying tournament for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Brazil from June 24 to July 25. Six African nations can ultimately qualify for the global tournament: four directly through the WAFCON semi-finals and two through the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.

With Morocco now safely through, the hosts have achieved two major objectives in one night: a place in the WAFCON semi-finals and a return to the world’s biggest stage in women’s football.