WAFCON 2026 Kicks Off in Morocco with 16 Teams Competing

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) commenced in Morocco on Sunday, featuring 16 teams competing for continental glory and a chance to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The opening match saw Algeria face Senegal at the Rabat Olympic Stadium, marking their first encounter in WAFCON history.

The tournament serves as Africa’s qualification pathway for the World Cup, with the four semi-finalists automatically qualifying. Defending champions Nigeria, ranked as Africa’s highest women’s team, will begin their Group C campaign against Malawi on Tuesday, aiming for a record-extending 11th WAFCON title.

They are grouped with Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi. The tournament, hosted by Morocco for the third consecutive time, features matches across five stadiums in Rabat and Casablanca, culminating in the final on August 16.

Other strong contenders include Morocco, South Africa, and Zambia, led by Barbra Banda, the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2024.