The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a significant expansion of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), increasing the number of participating teams from 12 to 16 starting with the 2026 edition in Morocco.
The expansion aims to strengthen women’s football development and inclusivity across the continent, providing more opportunities for emerging nations to compete at the top level.
A total of 12 nations, including defending champions Nigeria, have already secured qualification for the tournament. They will be joined by four additional teams—Cameroon (66th), Côte d’Ivoire (71st), Mali (79th), and Egypt (95th)—selected based on the FIFA Women’s World Ranking among those eliminated in the final qualifying round.
CAF said the move reflects its broader vision to enhance competitiveness and visibility in African women’s football, aligning with global growth trends in the women’s game.
The 2026 WAFCON finals will take place from March 17 to April 3, 2026, in Morocco, and will also serve as the African qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
