The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will kick off in Morocco on July 26, marking the first edition to feature an expanded 16-team field. Originally scheduled from March 17 to April 3, the tournament was postponed at Morocco’s request for new dates following controversy surrounding the men’s AFCON final.
The group stage will run until August 6, followed by the quarter-finals on August 8 and 9, semi-finals on August 12, and the final on August 16 in Rabat. The championship match will be played either at Stade Moulay Hassan or the 69,500-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the final venue yet to be confirmed.
The tournament features four groups: Group A comprises hosts Morocco, Algeria, Senegal and Kenya; Group B includes South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania; Group C features defending champions Nigeria alongside Zambia, Egypt and Malawi; while Group D consists of Ghana, Cameroon, Mali and debutants Cape Verde. Cape Verde and Malawi are making their WAFCON debuts.
The four semi-finalists will qualify directly for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, while the losing quarter-finalists will advance to the qualification playoffs.
Defending champions Nigeria, who have won the tournament 10 times, are favourites alongside Ghana, Zambia and hosts Morocco. Players to watch include Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji (Zambia), the Chawinga sisters (Malawi), Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria) and Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco).
The winners will receive $2 million, double the previous edition’s prize, from a total prize pool of $5.8 million.
