Malawi vs Ghana: Confirmed Black Queens Lineup for WAFCON 2026 Quarter-Final

• Ghana's Black Queens face Malawi in the 2026 WAFCON quarter-final, with a semi-final berth and a 2027 Women's World Cup spot at stake
• Head coach Kim Lars Björkegren named an unchanged starting XI, deploying the team in a 4-4-2 formation
• Malawi arrive as tournament debutants who topped Group C after stunning reigning champions Nigeria 3-2 in their opening fixture
• CAF License A coach Prince George Koffie reckons that the Queens must up their game to seal qualification to the World Cup

The Black Queens of Ghana will face Malawi in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Rabat, with head coach Kim Lars Bjokegren confirming his starting lineup ahead of the high-stakes encounter on August 9.

The winner of the fixture will secure a place in the semi-finals and, crucially, book a ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, giving the match considerable weight beyond the continental competition itself.

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Malawi vs Ghana: Black Queens' starting XI

Björkegren has opted for continuity, selecting the same 11 players who held Mali to a draw to seal Ghana's passage into the knockout stage. The team lines up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Cynthia Konlan starting in goal.

Susan Ama Duah and Portia Boakye form the central defensive pairing, while Josephine Bonsu Afua Kyerewaa occupy the left side of the defence. Comfort Yeboah takes up a position on the right flank.

Jennifer Cudjoe anchors the midfield in a defensive role, shielding the back four, while Grace Asantewaa operates in a more advanced midfield position.

Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah fills the number ten role, with Evelyn Badu and Alice Kusi deployed on the wings. Doris Boaduwaa leads the line as the central striker.

Below is Ghana's starting XI, as shared on X:

Malawi vs Ghana match preview

Ghana arrive as last edition's bronze medallists and have never won the WAFCON title.

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The Black Queens have been working to reclaim a spot at the Women's World Cup, and victory in Rabat would confirm their place in Brazil in 2027.

Malawi, by contrast, is making its debut at the flagship women's competition on the continent and has already turned heads.

The Scorchers topped Group C after defeating reigning champions Nigeria 3-2 in their opening match, before following up with a 3-1 win over Egypt.

Despite that, the southern African nation only booked their spot in the quarter-final via a complicated CAF regulation.

History offers Ghana some comfort ahead of the fixture.

According to CAF Online, across nine previous meetings with WAFCON debutants, the Black Queens have won eight times, with their only defeat to a debutant coming in the inaugural 1998 edition of the tournament, when all participating nations were playing for the first time.

Black Queens urged to up their game

Reacting to the lineup and the significance of the clash, former Karela United, Nzema Kotoko and Great Olympics coach Prince George Koffie told YEN.com.gh:

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“This is more like a final, and the Black Queens have everything to play for against Malawi. While the statistics and history favour Ghana, I don't expect the team to be complacent, particularly with a semi-final place and a World Cup ticket at stake. They should be more motivated than ever to step onto the pitch and deliver.

“The performances against Cape Verde and Cameroon were not encouraging. Against Mali, however, they showed glimpses of the team Ghanaians have come to love, and I believe that may have influenced coach Kim Lars’ decision to retain the same starting lineup.”

ChatGPT predicts WAFCON winner

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that ChatGPT had tipped its predicted winner for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations before the quarter-finals.

Its projected route to the final featured Nigeria, Morocco, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, with the prediction suggesting the Black Queens would make it to the title decider.

Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh