Aïssata Traoré’s third Women’s Africa Cup of Nations run has come to an end after Mali finished third in its group, narrowly missing quarterfinals.
Just a year after playing in the 2024 WAFCON tournament (which was delayed to 2025), Traoré returned to continue making a name for herself. The striker started each game and played nearly every minute, ending the tournament with one goal and two assists.
This is the first year that the tournament includes 16 teams (expanding from 12), which were divided into four groups. The four semifinalists will qualify for the 2027 World Cup.
Mali’s group consisted of Cameroon, Ghana, and Cape Verde, and each game yielded entertaining action.
