WAFCON: “Ghana can go step further into finals” – Yusif Basigi

Experienced Ghana coach Yusif Basigi has warned the senior female team against underestimating their group opponents at the next Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The Black Queens have been drawn in Group D against three-time runners-up Cameroon, 2018 semifinalists Mali and debutants Cape Verde for the expanded tournament that kicks off on March 17 to April 3 across four venues in Rabat, one in Casablanca and the other in Fez for the sixteen day tournament.

Basigi, who spent four years with Ghana’s Black Queens described the group as “dicey.”

Ghana won bronze at last WAFCON in Morocco

“For me I will say that it’s quite dicey because we can’t underestimate any country because this particular tournament will qualify any country to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup so everyone will prepare for this particular tournament in order to qualify for the coming World Cup [in Brazil],” Yusif Basigi told Radio Gold.

Cape Verde will be making their debut appearance at the tournament but Basigi has cautioned Ghana against taking the new girls of the tournament lightly.

“We can’t brush them aside, they may not have foreign players so will not be surprised if by now they have started camping and when they camp for long, team cohesion and everything will be very effective, therefore we can’t underestimate them,” Basigi told Radio Gold.

The Black Queens produced a scintillating performance at the last edition in Morocco, winning bronze and Yusif Basigi who once managed Hasaacas Ladies of Ghana and Simba Queens of Tanzania believes Ghana can go a step further in the upcoming tournament.

“I think Ghana can improve on their last WAFCON which was staged in Morocco and you know they performed very well, they started slowly but they ended very well so I think that this time round they will improve on where they ended so I will not be surprised if they get to the finals.”

WAFCON is set for between March 17 and April 3

Hosts Morocco have been paired against 2024 quarterfinalists Algeria, Senegal who made the quarter finals in 2022 and 2024 as well as East Africans Kenya in Group A.

The Group B has 2022 champions South Africa, 2014 second runners-up Cote D’Ivoire alongside Burkina Faso and Tanzania while Group C houses record holders Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt and debutants Malawi.

Nine countries out of the sixteen qualified teams participated at the last competition in Morocco with Tunisia, DR Congo and Botswana missing out. Two countries, Cape Verde and Malawi, are making their debut appearance in the finals this time around. Morocco is hosting the tournament for the third consecutive time.

The tournament format will see the top two teams from each group progress to the knockout phase, starting from the quarter-finals. The competition will also serve as part of the qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027. The competition is set between March 17 and April 3.

2026 WAFCON Draw

Group A: Morocco (hosts), Algeria, Senegal, Kenya

Group B: South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Tanzania

Group C: Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi

Group D: Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde