By: Kwame Bediako
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced an expansion of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), increasing the tournament from 12 to 16 teams.
This change, approved by CAF’s Executive Committee, adds four additional nations; Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Egypt to the competition despite their failure to qualify through the usual process.
The inclusion of these four teams was based on their rankings as the highest-placed teams eliminated in the final qualifying round. They will join the hosts Morocco along with Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Cape Verde, South Africa, and Senegal.
The tournament is scheduled to take place from March 17 to April 3, 2026. CAF described the expansion as part of a broader strategic vision to strengthen the competitiveness and development of women’s football across Africa.
The move aims to provide more opportunities for teams to compete at a high level and to foster greater interest and growth in the women’s game on the continent.
The reigning champions, Nigeria, won the 2024 edition held in July after a postponement caused by shifting the competition to a summer schedule.
This new schedule is intended to align WAFCON with the men’s Africa Cup of Nations, although it has created a scheduling clash with the Olympic Games, where both Nigeria and Zambia are also competing.
CAF’s decision reflects its commitment to promoting women’s football and supporting the sport’s evolution in Africa through expanded tournaments and increased exposure for more nations.
