World Cup Qualification: Hope For Quarterfinals Losers

Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire remain in the qualifi­ cation race for the 2027 FIFA Wo­ men’s World Cup in Brazil despite their defeats at the quarterfinals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations ongoing in Morocco. This is because, under the tournament’s qualification format, the four losing quarter-finalists losers progress to an African play-off. The two win­ ners of the play-off matches will then qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup intercontinental play- offs, where they will have another opportunity to secure places at Bra­ zil 2027. Nigeria’s hopes of clinching an 11th title was dashed when they lost to Cameroon in the quarterfinals. Ho­ wever, their hopes of participating in their 10th World Cup are still alive. They will face former cham­ pions, South Africa, in the African play-offs towards the interconti­ nental play-offs. Côte d’Ivoire, that lost to Algeria, will now face ...