Mali kept their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 campaign alive with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in Casablanca, setting up a decisive final Group D encounter against Ghana for a place in the quarter-finals.
The Eagles secured their first win of the tournament at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Sunday evening, recovering from their opening defeat to move level on three points with Ghana heading into the final round of group matches.
The result also ended Cape Verde’s hopes of progressing from the group, leaving the tournament debutants without a point after two matches despite another spirited performance.
Mali took the lead in the 28th minute through Oumou Koné, who gave the West Africans the breakthrough after an evenly contested opening period.
Cape Verde responded positively and found an equaliser seven minutes later when Eveline Varela brought the island nation back into the contest, ensuring the teams went into the interval level.
The second half began in Mali’s favour as Fatoumata Niakaté restored her side’s advantage in the 50th minute.
With Cape Verde pushing for another equaliser, Mali appeared to put the contest beyond doubt in the closing stages when Fatoumata Diarra scored the team’s third goal in the 79th minute.
However, Cape Verde refused to surrender.
Alivia Kelly reduced the deficit in the 88th minute to set up a tense finish, but Mali held firm during the closing moments to collect three crucial points in their quest for a place in the knockout stage.
The victory significantly alters the complexion of Group D.
Mali now have three points, matching Ghana’s tally after the Black Queens suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon earlier on Sunday.
That result saw the Indomitable Lionesses secure their second consecutive victory of the tournament, moving to six points and becoming the first team from Group D to confirm qualification for the quarter-finals.
For Mali, Sunday’s victory means qualification remains firmly within reach.
The Eagles now face Ghana in what promises to be one of the decisive fixtures of the group stage, with the winner likely to secure the second qualification spot behind Cameroon.
Cape Verde, meanwhile, may have been eliminated, but the tournament newcomers once again demonstrated resilience by pushing one of the continent’s more experienced sides until the final whistle.
Their attacking response after falling behind on multiple occasions underlined the progress the nation has made in women’s football, even if it was not enough to extend their campaign.
Individual recognition also went Mali’s way, with Aïssata Traoré being named Woman of the Match following another influential display as the Eagles revived their hopes of reaching the last eight.
Attention now turns to Thursday’s final Group D fixtures.
