WAFCON 2026: Ghana Stumble, Cote d'Ivoire Edge Mali in Final Tune-Up

Posted : 23 July 2026

As the countdown to the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations enters its final days, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire experienced contrasting fortunes in their final preparatory matches, offering fresh insight into their readiness for the continental showpiece.

The Black Queens were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Tanzania, while Cote d'Ivoire regained confidence with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Mali.

Ghana dominated possession throughout their encounter with Tanzania but struggled to convert their superiority into goals.

The Black Queens dictated the tempo for much of the contest, yet Tanzania's disciplined defensive organisation denied them clear scoring opportunities.

The East Africans also posed occasional threats on the counter-attack, forcing Ghana's defence to remain alert.

The stalemate will leave Ghana coach Kim Lars Björkegren with plenty to ponder, particularly the team's lack of cutting edge in the final third ahead of a challenging Group D campaign against Cameroon, Mali, and Cape Verde.

For Tanzania, the result underlined their defensive resilience and will provide encouragement as they conclude preparations for the tournament.

Meanwhile, Cote d'Ivoire responded positively after their recent defeat to Ghana by edging Mali 1-0 at the Berrechid Municipal Stadium.

The Ivorians, eager to restore confidence before the competition, produced a disciplined display, with Grâce Ruth Sery scoring the decisive goal in the 42nd minute after capitalising on a scoring opportunity.

Mali pressed for an equaliser after the break, enjoying more possession and increasing the intensity, but Cote d'Ivoire's defence remained resolute to preserve the slender advantage until the final whistle.

The victory hands coach Reynald Pedros and his players a timely morale boost as they prepare for their return to the Women's Africa Cup of Nations after missing recent editions.

With the tournament set to kick off on July 26 in Morocco, the latest warm-up fixtures have highlighted both the strengths and areas requiring improvement among Africa's leading teams.

While Ghana will seek greater attacking efficiency, Cote d'Ivoire will take confidence from ending their preparations on a winning note as they join the rest of the continent in pursuit of WAFCON glory.

The final round of friendly matches has provided valuable lessons for both teams before the tournament begins. Ghana will look to sharpen its attack, while Cote d'Ivoire will hope to build on its defensive discipline and winning momentum in Morocco.

WAFCON 2026: Ghana Stumble, Cote d'Ivoire Edge Mali in Final Tune-Up

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