On Sunday, the Copper Queens became the first side, outside hosts Morocco, to qualify for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) after seeing off Namibia to a comfortable 3 – 0 home win.
The result at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium gave Zambia a comfortable 7 – 2 aggregate result and helped them step onto the biggest stage in grand style for the fourth consecutive time.
So who could join Nora Hauptle’s ladies in Morocco?
South Africa v DRC
Banyana Banyana face the Democratic Republic of Congo in a decider on Tuesday. Having played to a 1 – all draw away, South Africa know that they cannot afford to slip up.
The former champions have formed for themselves a reputation of being one of Africa’s most formidable sides. The expectation is that they will not slip where it matters the most.
Verdict: South Africa to qualify.
Ethiopia v Tanzania
Tanzania is one step into the WAfCON, having managed a 2 – 0 home win in the first leg against Ethiopia. Unless Ethiopia pulls off a miracle, it is difficult to see Tanzania fumble this one.
Verdict: Tanzania to qualify.
Togo v Burkina Faso
Having missed the last two outings, there is no way Burkina Faso will want to let this one slip, more so since they carry a 2 – 0 advantage against Togo.
Togo, whose only qualification came in the 2022 edition, is yearning to produce an upset when they travel away.
To reach this stage, they beat Djibouti 10-0 on aggregate; they will feel they have something to offer.
Verdict: Burkina Faso to qualify.
Cameroon v Algeria
Cameroon is home to Algeria and is looking to overturn a 2 – 1 loss suffered in the first leg against Algeria.
Playing at home, the 2022 quarterfinalists know that a 1-0 win is enough to see them through and make up for lost time after failing to qualify in 2024.
Verdict: Cameroon to qualify.
Ghana v Egypt
Ghana has been on the ascendance since the departure of Hauptle. They won bronze in 2024.
Having tasted the glamour of the big stage last time around, they are keen to return; it is little wonder they managed a 3 – 0 win away.
Playing at home tomorrow, they will do whatever it takes to ensure they protect their advantage and earn a 14th qualification.
Verdict: Ghana to qualify.
Gambia v Kenya
This is an interesting tie, it puts one team that has only managed to qualify once, Kenya, while the other has never qualified.
Kenya were last at the WaFCON in 2018, they are on the brink of qualification as they are having a 3 – 1 lead from the first leg.
Even though they are playing at home, Gambia has a mountain to climb.
Verdict: Kenya to qualify.
Nigeria v Benin
The defending champions were on bye from the previous round, but they have to earn their qualification, and Benin stands in the way.
Thankfully, they go into this tie with a 2 – 0 advantage from the first leg, and it is near impossible to see them give up that advantage in front of the home crowd.
Verdict: Nigeria to qualify.
Mali v Cape Verde
2024 quarter finalists Mali head into this game with a 1 – 0 advantage. All they need is to avoid defeat at home to make it to their ninth WaFCON appearance.
Verdict: Mali to qualify
Ivory Coast v Senegal
This is an evenly poised tie in that the first leg ended scoreless in Senegal.
Ivory Coast has a chance to end its 12-year wait for an appearance at the WafCON. Can they do it against the 2024 quarterfinalists?
Verdict: Senegal to qualify.
Malawi v Angola
After 90 minutes, at least we will have a team that has never qualified for the WaFCON. That is the beauty of this fixture.
Neither Malawi nor Angola has qualified for the WAfCON before, and the two are evenly poised going into this game.
They played to a scoreless draw in the first leg.
Verdict: Malawi to qualify
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