Morocco’s bid to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations suffered a major setback on Tuesday after the final Group B results pitched the hosts against South Africa in the quarter-finals.
A report by ESPN on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, confirmed that Banyana Banyana sealed second place in Group B with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso. The result gave South Africa four points and set up a heavyweight knockout tie against tournament hosts Morocco.
South Africa, winners of the WAFCON title in 2022, remain one of the continent’s strongest women’s teams and will pose the toughest test yet for the Atlas Lionesses.
Ivory Coast topped Group B on seven points after defeating Tanzania in their final group game. Their first-place finish means they avoided a quarter-final meeting with Morocco, leaving the hosts to contend with the defending champions instead.
Despite the difficult draw, Morocco have impressed in the group stages and will be banking on home support to carry them through.
The quarter-final carries huge significance beyond WAFCON progression. The winner will not only advance to the semi-finals but will also secure automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
That prize is expected to make the Morocco vs South Africa clash one of the standout fixtures of the tournament.
Football fans across the continent are now anticipating the showdown, with Morocco aiming to ride the momentum of home support and South Africa seeking to reaffirm their status as Africa’s leading women’s football nation.
The date and venue for the quarter-final are expected to be announced by CAF later this week.
