The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially approved the expansion of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) from 12 to 16 teams, ushering in a new era for women’s football on the continent.
The expanded format will debut in the 2026 edition, scheduled to take place in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
The historic decision, endorsed by the CAF Executive Committee, aligns with the organisation’s long-term strategy to boost competitiveness and development in women’s football across Africa.
By increasing participation, CAF aims to offer more nations the opportunity to compete on the continental stage, strengthening pathways for players, coaches, and federations to grow the game.
As the qualification process for the 2026 edition had already concluded under the 12-team format, CAF approved a special selection mechanism to determine the four additional participants.
Joining the already qualified nations are Cameroon (66th globally), Côte d’Ivoire (71st), Mali (79th), and Egypt (95th)—four traditional powerhouses that narrowly missed out in the qualifiers but will now feature in Morocco.
The upcoming tournament promises to be one of the most competitive and inclusive in WAFCON history.
Record champions Nigeria, with ten continental titles to their name, will once again headline the field as they pursue an unprecedented 11th crown. Close behind are South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, the reigning champions who continue to set new standards for professionalism and performance in African women’s football.
The 2026 WAFCON will also mark historic debuts for Cape Verde and Malawi, both qualifying for the finals for the first time, a clear reflection of the sport’s expanding footprint and growing parity across Africa.
