South Africa, Ghana Secure Women’s World Cup Playoff Berths

South Africa and Ghana have secured the final two African berths in the FIFA Women's World Cup intercontinental playoffs, following decisive victories on Thursday. These outcomes conclude the qualification process for the four beaten quarterfinalists of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, signaling the end of Nigeria's continuous World Cup appearances that began in 1991.

Nigeria Misses First World Cup Since 1991

South Africa defeated Nigeria 2-1, a result that means Nigeria will miss the Women's World Cup for the first time since the tournament's inception in 1991. The victory was secured despite a late red card for South Africa's captain Refiloe Jane and a stoppage-time penalty conversion by Nigeria's Christy Ucheibe.

Ghana Advances Past Ivory Coast

Ghana also advanced to the playoffs, overcoming an early deficit to defeat Ivory Coast 2-1. Josephine Bonsu scored the decisive penalty in the 72nd minute, awarded after a video assistant referee review. This victory keeps Ghana's hopes alive for a potential fourth World Cup participation, and their first since 2007.

Conversely, Ivory Coast will miss out on what would have been only their second World Cup appearance. The intercontinental playoff structure will see South Africa and Ghana join competitors from Asia, Oceania, and South America in a centralized tournament.

This tournament is scheduled for November and December, with the top two finishers progressing to a final qualification stage in February 2027. In this final stage, they will compete against teams from Europe, South America, and the CONCACAF region for the last three spots in the 2027 Women's World Cup, which Brazil is set to host.