Ghana and South Africa have secured places in the intercontinental play-offs for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after winning their respective qualification matches.
Ghana booked its place after defeating Côte d’Ivoire, while South Africa eliminated Nigeria to become Africa’s second representative in the play-offs.
The two African teams will now face opposition from other regions as they battle for a place at the global tournament.
Ghana and South Africa could face Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, Ecuador, Venezuela or Papua New Guinea in the first round.
Only two teams will progress from that stage. They will then join four teams from UEFA, the Oceania Football Confederation and CONMEBOL that have been given direct entry into the final play-off stage.
The six remaining teams will be divided into three paths, with each path decided by a single knockout match. The three winners will secure the final three places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Ghana and South Africa will now carry Africa’s hopes into a crucial stage of the qualification race, with both nations needing to win their play-off matches to reach the tournament.The intercontinental play-offs are expected to provide a major test for the African representatives as they compete against teams from across the world for a place on football’s biggest women’s stage.
