Morocco will face South Africa in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after finishing top of Group A.
The Atlas Lionesses, coached by Jorge Vilda, will take on the Banyana Banyana, who finished runners-up in Group B, on Saturday, August. 8, at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. A place in the semifinals and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil will be at stake.
The women’s national team wrapped up the group stage with two victories, beating Kenya 4-0 and Algeria 1-0 before playing out a goalless draw against Senegal. The Atlas Lionesses topped Group A with seven points, one ahead of second-placed Algeria on six.
South Africa, meanwhile, finished second in Group B with four points. The Banyana Banyana opened their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Tanzania before drawing 2-2 with Côte d’Ivoire. They secured their place in the quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
The Morocco-South Africa clash will offer the Atlas Lionesses an opportunity for revenge. The two sides have met only once in an official competition, in the final of the 2022 WAFCON in Morocco. South Africa won that match 2-1, denying the hosts what would have been their first continental title.
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The other quarterfinal will pit Group B winners Côte d’Ivoire against Algeria, the runners-up in Group A.
The four teams that reach the semifinals will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Two of the teams eliminated in the quarterfinals will still have a chance to reach the tournament through the intercontinental playoffs.
