Malawi vs Ghana LIVE: Score, Goals and Latest Updates From WAFCON 2026 Quarter-Final
Malawi 1-1 Ghana: Halftime analysis
Ghana started brightly and deservedly took the lead through Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah, but their defensive lapse soon came back to haunt them.
An unmarked Temwa Chawinga was given too much time to unleash a volley, which took a wicked deflection and wrong-footed Cynthia Konlan for Malawi’s equaliser.
Since then, the Scorchers have grown in confidence and look particularly dangerous down Ghana’s right flank, where Josephine Bonsu has struggled to impose herself.
Bonsu has played as a left-back in Ghana’s previous three games and was only moved to the right for this quarter-final.
She has looked uncomfortable in the role, and Björkegren may need to consider switching her back to the left and restoring Comfort Yeboah to a more familiar position to get the best out of both players.
Ghana’s midfield has also failed to click, with the central pairing appearing overwhelmed as the half progressed.
Linda Owusu Ansah could provide the extra bite needed in midfield, potentially replacing Jennifer Cudjoe and allowing Grace Asantewaa greater freedom to carry the ball forward.
Up front, Alice Kusi has been Ghana’s brightest attacking outlet, while Doris Boaduwaa and Evelyn Badu have struggled to make their presence felt. Badu, in particular, wasted a free header shortly after Ghana’s opener when she should have done better.
With a place in the semi-finals and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup at stake, Björkegren may need to turn to his bench for fresh ideas and greater intensity in the second half.
Malawi 1-1 Ghana: Nothing to separate the sides. Half time
41 min: Ghana waste a promising set-piece opportunity as Malawi stand firm and clear their lines.
43 min: Malawi work a throw-in and keep possession despite Ghana’s high press. The Black Queens eventually win it back, with Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah slipping a through ball towards Doris Boaduwaa, but the striker’s first touch lets her down.
44 min: Malawi sustain the pressure and send a dangerous cross into Ghana’s box. Asimenye Simwaka gets on the end of it, but Cynthia Konlan is perfectly positioned to make the save and deny the Scorchers a second goal.
45 min: Josephine Bonsu drives forward from midfield but is halted by the Malawian defence. Ghana win a corner after a defender puts the ball out of play.
The referee signals two minutes of added time.
45+2 min: Alice Kusi finally gets the corner into the box after several interruptions, but it fails to trouble Malawi. The rebound falls to Comfort Yeboah, who cannot control it and watches the ball roll out of play.
Half-time: The referee brings an entertaining first half to an end, with Ghana and Malawi locked at 1-1.
Malawi 1-1 Ghana: Evenly balanced affair so far
33 min: Ghana nearly win the ball back, but Malawi manage to retain possession. The Black Queens eventually regain it and quickly send Alice Kusi down the right flank, but her marker clears the danger. Ghana fail to make the most of the resulting attack and Malawi earn a goal kick.
35 min: A hopeful ball is sent towards Doris Boaduwaa, but Malawi defend resolutely. The Scorchers attempt to counter, only for the ball to run out of play. Ghana then give possession away again, with Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah caught on the ball.
36 min: Jennifer Cudjoe comes to Ghana’s rescue, winning a foul to halt the attack. Portia Boakye launches a long ball towards Kusi, but Malawi deal with it. The Scorchers quickly switch play, forcing Boye-Hlorkah to race back and help defensively.
37 min: Ghana turn the throw-in into a quick counter. Cudjoe finds Grace Asantewaa, who releases Kusi down the flank, but a Malawian defender times her challenge perfectly to stop the attack.
38 min: Boaduwaa attempts a clever flick, but it fails to come off and Ghana’s promising move breaks down.
39 min: Malawi switch play and find Temwa Chawinga, but Comfort Yeboah stays tight to the danger woman and ensures her tricks and flicks lead nowhere. Goal kick to Ghana.
40 min: Malawi try to build another attack, but Ghana deals with it . Cynthia Konlan gathers comfortably before a long ball into the Malawian half causes brief panic as two defenders collide. Boaduwaa almost capitalises, but the goalkeeper reacts quickly to smother the danger.
Malawi 1-1 Ghana: Black Queens living dangerously
22 min: It has become a tight affair after Ghana dominated the opening exchanges. Jennifer Cudjoe goes down in a challenge as the Black Queens win a throw-in.
23 min: What a chance! Evelyn Badu finds herself in acres of space but cannot bring the ball under control. Fortunately for Ghana, the assistant referee’s flag goes up for offside.
24 min: Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah threads a pass into midfield, with Alice Kusi picking it up before sending a first-time cross towards Doris Boaduwaa. Malawi deal with the danger.
25 min: The game is becoming scrappy, with Malawi starting to find their footing. Temwa Chawinga slips a pass into a teammate’s path, but Cynthia Konlan gathers comfortably.
27 min: Malawi look the more composed side at this stage and win a free-kick. The ball is floated into Ghana’s box, but Konlan comes off her line to collect with ease.
28 min: Ghana are living dangerously as Malawi continue to apply pressure.
29 min: Ghana come close! Doris Boaduwaa forces a save from a tight angle after clever play from Boye-Hlorkah. Boaduwaa is then sent through again, but she collides with a Malawian defender, with the referee awarding a foul to the Scorchers.
30 min: Malawi launch the free-kick into a dangerous area and work an opening, but the resulting effort sails high over the bar.
Malawi 1-1 Ghana: Temwa Chawinga levels the score
12 min: Goal! Malawi are level! After sustained pressure, Temwa Chawinga unleashes a volley that takes a wicked deflection and wrong-foots Cynthia Konlan. The Scorchers are back in it at 1-1.
14 min: Malawi have grown in confidence since finding the equaliser, while Ghana need to regain their composure and rhythm. Alice Kusi beats her markers with ease, but her final pass fails to find a teammate.
15 min: Ghana forced into concern. Evelyn Badu goes down in pain and receives treatment from the medical team. The referee asks her to continue treatment off the pitch as she limps away.
16 min: Ghana restart without Badu. Portia Boakye launches one of her trademark long balls, but Malawi deal with it comfortably and quickly turn defence into attack.
17 min: Malawi push forward, but Ghana’s defence stands firm and clears the danger with little fuss.
18 min: Alice Kusi continues to torment the Malawian defence. She wins possession and earns Ghana a throw-in. The ball is delivered and cleared, but the rebound falls to Josephine Bonsu, whose effort sails over the bar.
20 min: Malawi threaten again, but Ghana defend resolutely before building from the back. The Queens are briefly caught under pressure but manage to escape. Boye-Hlorkah then slips a through ball towards Doris Boaduwaa, but the pass runs straight into the arms of the Malawian goalkeeper.
Malawi 0-1 Ghana: Boye-Hlorkah fires Black Queens into the lead
1 min: Ghana get us underway in Rabat, with Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah setting the game in motion. The Black Queens win an early attacking throw-in, but Malawi clear their lines.
2 min: Grace Asantewaa is penalised for a foul, but Malawi fail to make the most of the free-kick. Ghana quickly regain possession, with Boye-Hlorkah sending Doris Boaduwaa through before the striker is penalised for a foul of her own.
3 min: Malawi win a long throw after the ball goes out of play. Josephine Bonsu appears to catch her opponent during an aerial challenge, but the referee waves play on.
4 min: Ghana settle into the game and gradually push into Malawi’s half. The Black Queens earn another attacking throw-in, but Evelyn Badu cannot get the required touch and the chance goes begging.
5 min: Ghana press high and win possession. Alice Kusi delivers a cross that Boaduwaa fails to connect with, but the rebound falls kindly to Boye-Hlorkah, who makes no mistake, smashing a volley into the net from a tight angle. GOAL! Ghana lead!
6 min: Wait! VAR checks the goal, but the review is brief. The Egyptian referee confirms the goal stands, and Malawi are forced to restart.
7 min: Alice Kusi is causing all sorts of problems for Malawi. She skips past her marker and sends in a pinpoint cross, but Evelyn Badu cannot make proper contact and heads wide.
8 min: Malawi respond with greater urgency and win their first corner after Chawinga’s cross is cleared by Ghana captain Portia Boakye.
9 min: The corner is whipped into the box but beats everyone. Ghana survive without much trouble.
10 min: Ghana build patiently from the back with some neat passing before quickly switching play. Evelyn Badu is sent into space, but the ball runs out of play.
