The Black Queens advance to the quarter-finals after Ghana and Mali draw 1-1, while Nigeria continue their title defence as they chase a record-extending 11th championship

Ghana’s Black Queens have secured a place in the knockout stage of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after the conclusion of all Group D fixtures on Thursday, joining Cameroon in the quarter-finals.

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Ghana advanced after playing out a 1-1 draw with Mali in their final group match, while Cape Verde and Cameroon also finished their encounter with the same scoreline.

Cameroon had already guaranteed qualification before the final round of group games and maintained their position among the teams progressing to the knockout phase.

The Black Queens’ qualification sets up a quarter-final meeting with Malawi, with both teams now competing for a place in the semi-finals of Africa’s premier women’s football tournament.

The remaining quarter-final fixtures will see South Africa take on hosts Morocco, while Ivory Coast will face Algeria in another highly anticipated knockout clash.

Defending champions Nigeria remain among the leading contenders at the tournament as the Super Falcons continue their pursuit of a record-extending 11th WAFCON title.

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The final stages of the competition are expected to deliver intense battles as Africa’s top women’s football nations compete for continental supremacy.