WAFCON upsets reshape 2027 World Cup landscape as Nigeria’s dominance ends
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has delivered significant shifts in the continental hierarchy, with host nation Morocco remaining unbeaten and the NWSL seeing key roster movements.
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) has fundamentally altered the qualification trajectory for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon, and Malawi advancing to the semifinals. The tournament has produced historic results, most notably securing the first-ever World Cup berths for Malawi and Algeria following their quarterfinal victories.
Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world, secured their place by defeating Ghana with a 79th-minute winning goal from 20-year-old Rose Kadzere. The team’s attack is spearheaded by sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga. Concurrently, Algeria advanced to the semifinals, marking another milestone for the nation in international women’s football.
Host nation Morocco maintained their unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory over South Africa. The hosts did not concede any goals during the group stage and will now face Cameroon in the semifinals. This performance keeps Morocco’s hopes of retaining the continental title alive as they navigate the latter stages of the competition.
In a significant shift in the tournament’s historical dynamics, Cameroon eliminated ten-time champions Nigeria. The victory was secured by a first-half free-kick goal from 19-year-old defender Maeva Nyadjou. Nigeria had never previously missed a semifinal in the history of the continental competition prior to this elimination, ending a long-standing era of dominance.
Beyond the continental qualifiers, the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is experiencing intensified competition for the Golden Boot. In related roster movements, former NWSL Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger has transferred from Arsenal to Bay FC, adding to the league’s shifting landscape.
These developments occur against the backdrop of ongoing administrative drama at FIFA following the men’s World Cup. The Athletic’s Full Time newsletter highlights these sporting events as a counterpoint to the political turbulence, noting that players are delivering high-level performances despite the broader institutional distractions.
