The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the expansion of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) from 12 to 16 teams, marking a major step forward for women’s football on the continent.
Following the completion of the qualifiers, CAF’s Executive Committee approved the inclusion of Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali and Egypt.
The four nations are the highest-ranked teams eliminated in the final qualifying round.
The decision aligns with CAF’s broader vision to enhance competitiveness and support the growth of women’s football across Africa.
The expanded tournament will take place in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026, featuring host nation Morocco alongside Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Cape Verde, South Africa, and Senegal.
Nigeria head into the tournament as defending champions, having lifted the 2024 title after the competition’s scheduling shift to align with the men’s AFCON.
