Morocco and South Africa will renew their rivalry on Saturday when they clash in the quarter-final of the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with a place in the semi-finals and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup at stake.
The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for 9pm local time (8pm GMT) at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, with the winner securing a place in the last four and an automatic ticket to next year’s global tournament in Brazil.
The fixture revives memories of the 2022 WAFCON final, when South Africa defeated hosts Morocco 2-1 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat to claim their first continental title.
South Africa’s Hildah Magaia scored twice in the second half, finding the net in the 63rd and 71st minutes, before Morocco’s Rosella Ayane reduced the deficit with a goal in the 80th minute.
The victory ended South Africa’s run of five defeats in previous WAFCON finals and secured their first-ever continental championship.
Four years later, both sides return to the knockout stage with an additional prize beyond continental glory: an early qualification ticket to the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Morocco are targeting a second appearance at the global tournament after making their World Cup debut in 2023.
For South Africa, victory would secure a third World Cup appearance, following their participation in the 2019 and 2023 editions.
With the teams meeting on familiar territory and a World Cup place on offer, Saturday’s quarter-final promises another fiercely contested chapter in one of the continent’s emerging women’s football rivalries.
