Ghana claimed the last quarter-final place in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after drawing 1-1 with Mali in Rabat on Thursday.

The Black Queens began the Group D match knowing a point would suffice, as their goal difference was superior to that of the Female Eagles.

Cameroon won the group with seven points after drawing 1-1 with debutants Cape Verde. Ghana and Mali finished with four points each and Cape Verde secured one.

Ghana, a three-time runner-up in the marquee African women’s football competition, face giant-killers Malawi on Sunday in the last quarter-final.

Hosts Morocco play South Africa and the Cote d’Ivoire meet Algeria on Saturday and the other Sunday fixture pits title-holders and record 10-time champions Nigeria against Cameroon.

The winning quarter-finalists qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. The four losers get a second chance through African and intercontinental play-offs.

Ghana went ahead in first-half added time when Evelyn Badu nodded a Comfort Yeboah cross past goalkeeper Aissatou Liberge, who had replaced injured captain Fatoumata Karentao.

Mali levelled five minutes into the second half after a free kick from substitute Kadidiatou Diabate took a deflection, which left goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan stranded.

The Malians had a late chance to snatch victory and a last-eight place, but Diabate overhit a free-kick, which Konlan comfortably saved.

In a match played simultaneously, Grace Mendoua scored for Cameroon on 28 minutes, and Ivania Moreira equalised after 50 minutes.