Cote d’Ivoire will secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 if they avoid defeat by Tanzania in their final Group match on Tuesday evening.
The Elephantes began their campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory over Burkina Faso before being held to a 2-2 draw by South Africa, who finished fourth at the previous edition of the competition. That unbeaten start leaves Reynald Pedros’ side in a favourable position ahead of their meeting with the Twiga Stars.
A point will be enough for Cote d’Ivoire to progress to the knockout stage, giving Pedros and his players a clear target in their final group fixture. The match will be followed live, with commentary, by Afrik-Foot.
Qualification would see Cote d’Ivoire reach the Africa Cup of Nations knockout phase for a second consecutive tournament. It would also mark their first appearance in the elimination rounds since 2014, 12 years after their previous participation at that stage.
Pedros has opted for continuity in his starting line-up, naming the same XI that began the 2-2 draw against South Africa. Grace-Ruth Sery keeps her place after scoring twice in that match on 31 July.
The fixture represents the first meeting between Cote d’Ivoire and Tanzania at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. However, the two sides have already faced one another in qualifying for the competition.
Their previous encounters came in September 2023. Cote d’Ivoire won the first leg 2-0, but Tanzania responded with a 2-0 victory in the return match. The teams therefore arrive at this contest with some recent history, although this meeting carries greater significance because of its direct bearing on qualification for the quarter-finals.
For Tanzania, the match provides an opportunity to challenge a Cote d’Ivoire side that has already collected four points from its opening two games. The Ivorians, meanwhile, know that a draw would be sufficient to extend their campaign beyond the group stage.
Cote d’Ivoire’s progress has been built on a strong opening victory and resilience against one of the tournament’s established teams. Their result against South Africa, combined with the earlier win over Burkina Faso, means they can approach the final group game without needing a victory to advance.
The decisive encounter between Tanzania and Cote d’Ivoire is therefore set to determine whether the Elephantes can complete their return to the knockout stage, while renewing a rivalry last seen in the 2023 qualifying campaign.
