National Teams
CAF confirms 16 finalists for expanded Morocco 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations
By Samuel Ahmadu
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed expansion of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) from 12 to 16 teams, beginning with the 2026 edition, a decision that restores four traditional African women’s football giants to the continental showpiece.
In a communiqué issued on November 3, 2025, CAF announced that its Executive Committee had approved the enlargement of the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations to 16 teams “beginning with the next edition in 2026.”
The decision follows the conclusion of the earlier qualification process under the previous 12-team structure, which had left some heavyweights, including Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Egypt, out of contention for the tournament billed for Morocco.
To ensure fairness, CAF stated that “the four best-ranked teams according to the current FIFA Women’s World Ranking, among those eliminated in the final qualifying round, will be selected to complete the list of 16 participating teams.”
As a result, Cameroon (ranked 66th globally), Côte d’Ivoire (71st), Mali (79th) and Egypt (95th) have now been granted qualification to join the 12 nations that earned their spots on the field.
The development offers reprieve to Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses, who missed out after a 3–1 aggregate defeat to Algeria in the final qualifying tie — a loss that had initially marked their second consecutive absence from the WAFCON finals.
Same also to Côte d’Ivoire, who crashed out at the hands of Burkina Faso, losing narrowly over two legs in the second qualifying round. Mali were edged out by Equatorial Guinea in another tightly contested fixture, while Egypt fell to Senegal on aggregate after a first-leg draw in Cairo and a decisive defeat in Dakar.
CAF said the expansion reflects its broader vision to strengthen women’s football and promote inclusivity across the continent.
The new format is expected to enhance competitiveness and provide more opportunities for nations to showcase their growth on the African stage.
The 2026 WAFCON, which doubles as the African qualifying tournament for the Brazil 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Morocco from March 17 to April 3, marking the first edition to feature 16 participating nations, a milestone moment in the advancement of African women’s football.
Qualified Teams for Wafcon 2026
1 Morocco (Host Nation)
2 Zambia
3 Tanzania
4 Malawi
5 Algeria
6 Nigeria
7 Ghana
8 Burkina Faso
9 Kenya
10 South Africa
11 Cape Verde
12 Senegal
13 Cameroon Reinstated (CAF expansion)
14 Côte d’Ivoire Reinstated (CAF expansion)
15 Mali Reinstated (CAF expansion)
16 Egypt Reinstated (CAF expansion)
