Ghana’s Black Queens have been drawn into what appears to be a manageable group at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), landing in Group D alongside Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde following the official draw held in Salé, Morocco.
The tournament will once again be hosted by Morocco, with matches scheduled from March 17 to April 3, and Ghana will play all their group-stage fixtures in the historic city of Fes.
The draw represents a return to familiar surroundings for the Black Queens, who enjoyed an impressive campaign at the previous edition, also staged in Morocco. Ghana finished third overall on that occasion after defeating South Africa in the bronze-medal match.
Group D is expected to be competitive, with Cameroon bringing experience and physical strength, Mali offering growing consistency at the continental level, and Cape Verde continuing their steady rise in women’s football. Nevertheless, Ghana will approach the tournament with confidence, buoyed by recent progress under head coach Kim Lars Björkegren.
Speaking after the draw, the Swedish tactician expressed optimism about Ghana’s chances.
“I am looking forward to the tournament. When I came, Ghana were ranked sixth in Africa, but we are now third and seeded for the competition. We will push to do better this time,” Björkegren said.
Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku also reaffirmed the country’s ambition to claim a first-ever continental crown.
“Our ambition is to win the WAFCON trophy, and we are not too far from that,” he stated.
Beyond continental glory, WAFCON 2026 carries significant global stakes, as the tournament will also serve as a qualifying pathway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The four semi-finalists will automatically secure tickets to the global showpiece.
For Ghana, the draw offers both opportunity and motivation. The Black Queens have not appeared at the Women’s World Cup since 2007, and a strong performance in Morocco would not only reaffirm their place among Africa’s elite but also end a long wait for a return to the world stage.
