Three countries have officially secured places in the quarter-finals of the ongoing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with hosts Morocco, Cameroon and Algeria emerging as the first teams to advance to the knockout stage.
The trio confirmed their qualification following impressive performances in the group stage, setting the pace for the race to the continental title.
Cameroon became the first nation to seal a place in the last eight after edging Ghana 1-0 in their Group D clash on Sunday.
The victory lifted the Indomitable Lionesses to six points from two matches, ensuring they would finish among the top two teams in the group regardless of the outcome of their final group fixture against Cape Verde.
With two wins from two games, Cameroon has maintained a perfect start to its WAFCON campaign and remains one of the tournament’s early favourites.
Hosts Morocco also secured passage to the quarter-finals after playing out a goalless draw with Senegal in a tightly contested Group A encounter at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Monday night.
The draw was enough for the Atlas Lionesses to finish top of Group A with seven points from three matches, continuing their impressive run in front of home supporters.
READ ALSO; Super Falcons aim to bounce back at WAFCON after shock opening defeat
Morocco’s disciplined defensive display ensured they completed the group stage unbeaten, underlining their credentials as strong contenders for the championship.
Joining the hosts in the knockout stage is Algeria, which booked its place in the quarter-finals with a convincing 2-0 victory over Kenya.
The North Africans finished second in Group A with six points from three matches, comfortably securing qualification behind Morocco.
Algeria’s victory over Kenya capped a successful group-stage campaign, with the team demonstrating resilience and consistency to reach the last eight.
With Morocco and Algeria progressing from Group A and Cameroon qualifying from Group D, attention now shifts to the remaining group-stage fixtures as other nations battle for the remaining quarter-final places.
The expanded 2026 WAFCON has produced several competitive encounters, with teams across the continent vying for continental glory and qualification to the knockout rounds.
The quarter-finals are expected to feature some of Africa’s biggest women’s football powers as the competition enters its decisive stage.