Gianni Infantino has praised the “huge success” of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and thanked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Morocco for staging the tournament.
The Fifa president attended the final in Rabat, where Cameroon won the title for the first time in their history.
Speaking on Fifa’s official website, Infantino said: “The Africa Cup of Nations, organised by the Confederation of African Football and Morocco, was a huge success. I congratulate CAF, Morocco, all the teams and the wonderful fans.”
The tournament was hosted by Morocco and brought together 16 national teams for the first time. It also served as the qualifying competition for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Algeria, Cameroon, Malawi and Morocco secured direct qualification for the World Cup, while South Africa and Ghana advanced to the preliminary stage of the play-off tournament.
Infantino also paid tribute to CAF president Patrice Motsepe and Fouzi Lekjaa, president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, for their roles in delivering the competition.
“I would like to express my great thanks to the Confederation of African Football, led by Patrice Motsepe, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, led by Fouzi Lekjaa, and everyone in Morocco for organising this outstanding tournament, which shone a light on women’s football,” he said.
Cameroon’s historic achievement was another central feature of Infantino’s message. Their victory marked the country’s first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
“Congratulations to Cameroon on winning the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and bringing joy to their people with this first achievement,” said Infantino.
The Fifa president also highlighted Malawi’s unexpected run to the final. They reached the decisive match on their first appearance at the tournament, despite being ranked 151st in the world.
Infantino said Malawi’s players “did not only make their country dream, but everyone who loves football as well”, underlining the significance of their progress throughout the competition.
Malawi’s route to the final was described as one of the defining stories of the tournament, given the team’s lack of previous experience in the competition and their position in the world rankings.
The expanded field of 16 teams provided the backdrop for a tournament that combined continental competition with World Cup qualification. Cameroon ultimately emerged as champions, while Malawi’s run ensured that the finals also showcased the potential of a team competing at the event for the first time.
The conclusion of the tournament in Rabat brought praise from Infantino for the participating teams and supporters, as well as for CAF and the Moroccan organisers. The competition also delivered a historic first title for Cameroon and World Cup places for four teams, with two more advancing to the preliminary play-off stage.
