Black Queens will qualify for 2027 Women’s World Cup despite WAFCON exit – Mercy Tagoe-Quarcoo

Former Black Queens head coach Mercy Tagoe-Quarcoo remains optimistic that Ghana can still secure qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup despite their exit from the ongoing Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The defeat to Malawi in the quarter-finals has forced Ghana to navigate the play-in route, starting with a crucial match against Côte d'Ivoire on Thursday, August 13.

A win against the Ivorians would allow Ghana to enter the FIFA Women's World Cup Play-Off Tournament, keeping their hopes alive for the 2027 global tournament in Brazil. Tagoe-Quarcoo, a former Black Queens player and FIFA referee, expressed her confidence in Ghana's chances, acknowledging the challenging nature of the playoff games but maintaining her belief in the team's ability to qualify.

The WAFCON play-in was introduced to provide teams eliminated at the quarter-final stage with an alternative path to World Cup qualification. The FIFA Women's World Cup Play-Off Tournament, consisting of six teams including two African representatives, will take place in November and December 2026, with the top two teams advancing to the final stage in February 2027.

Ultimately, the six teams will compete in knockout matches to determine the four teams that secure places at the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.