WAFCON 2026 Football: Africa Women Football Cup of Nations (March 17 – April 3). The 16th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026) marks the 16th edition of Africa’s premier biennial women’s football championship, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Scheduled to be hosted in Morocco, this tournament is historic, as Morocco becomes the first country to host three consecutive editions of WAFCON (2022, 2024, 2026).
The tournament also serves as the African qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, making it a pivotal event for women’s football on the continent.
Host Cities and Venues
The 2026 edition will be held across Casablanca, Fez, and Rabat, with four stadiums hosting matches:
| City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Rabat | Moulay El Hassan Stadium | 22,000 |
| Rabat | Al Medina Stadium | 18,000 |
| Casablanca | Larbi Zaouli Stadium | 20,000 |
| Fez | Fez Stadium | 45,000 |
Morocco’s experience hosting the previous two editions ensures a smooth tournament, while Casablanca and Fez will showcase world-class facilities for players and fans alike.
Qualified Teams for WAFCON 2026
The tournament has been expanded to 16 teams, including debutants Cape Verde and Malawi. Here’s the full list of qualified teams:
- Hosts: Morocco
- Defending Champions: Nigeria
- Zambia, Tanzania, Algeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, South Africa, Cape Verde, Senegal, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Egypt
Of these, Nigeria leads with 14 appearances and 10 championship wins, while several nations, including Malawi and Cape Verde, will make their WAFCON debut.
Tournament Format
Group Stage
The 16 teams are split into four groups (A–D). Each team plays three matches, with the top two teams advancing to the quarter-finals.
Group A: Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya
Group B: South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Tanzania
Group C: Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi
Group D: Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde
Tiebreakers are based on points, goal difference, goals scored, and head-to-head results.
WAFCON 2026 Full Schedule
Dates: 17 March – 3 April 2026
Host Country: Morocco
Group Stage – Matchday 1 (17–18 March 2026)
Tuesday, 17 March 2026
- South Africa vs Tanzania – TBD
- Morocco vs Kenya – TBD
- Algeria vs Senegal – TBD
- Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso – TBD
Wednesday, 18 March 2026
- Nigeria vs Malawi – TBD
- Zambia vs Egypt – TBD
- Cameroon vs Mali – TBD
- Ghana vs Cape Verde – TBD
Group Stage – Matchday 2 (20–21 March 2026)
Friday, 20 March 2026
- Senegal vs Kenya – TBD
- South Africa vs Ivory Coast – TBD
- Morocco vs Algeria – TBD
- Burkina Faso vs Tanzania – TBD
Saturday, 21 March 2026
- Ghana vs Cameroon – TBD
- Egypt vs Malawi – TBD
- Nigeria vs Zambia – TBD
- Mali vs Cape Verde – TBD
Group Stage – Matchday 3 (23–24 March 2026)
Monday, 23 March 2026
- Tanzania vs Ivory Coast – TBD
- Kenya vs Algeria – TBD
- Burkina Faso vs South Africa – TBD
- Senegal vs Morocco – TBD
Tuesday, 24 March 2026
- Cape Verde vs Cameroon – TBD
- Malawi vs Zambia – TBD
- Egypt vs Nigeria – TBD
- Mali vs Ghana – TBD
Knockout Stage (Dates Tentative: Late March – Early April 2026)
Quarter-finals – Winners qualify for 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup:
- TBD vs TBD – March 2026
- TBD vs TBD – March 2026
- TBD vs TBD – March 2026
- TBD vs TBD – March 2026
Play-in Matches – Losers compete for inter-confederation play-offs:
- TBD vs TBD – March 2026
- TBD vs TBD – March 2026
Semi-finals – April 2026
- TBD vs TBD
- TBD vs TBD
Third Place Match – April 2026
Final – April 2026
Knockout Stage
- Quarter-finals: Winners qualify directly for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
- Play-in matches: Losers compete for two remaining spots in the inter-confederation play-offs.
- Semi-finals, Third Place, and Final: Determine the tournament champion.
Highlights and Storylines
- Historic Morocco Hosting: First country to host three consecutive WAFCON tournaments.
- Nigeria Aims for 11th Title: Defending champions look to continue their dominance in African women’s football.
- Debut Teams: Cape Verde and Malawi join the elite continental stage for the first time.
- World Cup Qualification: Top four teams earn direct slots to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, adding high stakes to every match.
WAFCON 2026 Schedule Overview
- Kick-off: 17 March 2026
- Group Stage: 17–24 March 2026
- Quarter-finals & Play-ins: March 2026
- Semi-finals & Third Place: April 2026
- Final: April 2026
All times in local CET (UTC+1).
Why WAFCON 2026 Matters
WAFCON 2026 is more than a football tournament—it’s a showcase of women’s sporting excellence in Africa, a platform for young talent, and a gateway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. With high competition and rising stars across the continent, this edition promises thrilling matches and unforgettable moments for fans worldwide.
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