Overview of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is set to captivate audiences as it unfolds in Morocco, featuring an impressive lineup of sixteen teams competing for glory. This prestigious tournament not only highlights the prowess of African women’s football but also serves as the qualifying event for the highly anticipated 2027 Women’s World Cup. With a record number of participants, the competition has expanded from twelve teams in the previous edition to sixteen, showcasing the growing strength and popularity of women's football across the continent. Among the contenders, Nigeria stands out as the team to beat, boasting an impressive ten titles and defending their championship from the last tournament.
Since its inception in 1998, WAFCON has seen thirteen tournaments, with Nigeria dominating the landscape alongside Equatorial Guinea and South Africa, who have claimed the championship in limited instances. Notably, Equatorial Guinea has not qualified for this year’s tournament, while South Africa is entering as the top seed in Group B, ready to take on challenges from Tanzania, the Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso. Meanwhile, Morocco, having faced defeats in the finals as hosts in previous years to Nigeria and South Africa, is gearing up to face Algeria, Senegal, and Kenya in Group A.
Complete Match Schedule for WAFCON 2026
Football fans can look forward to an exciting lineup of matches throughout the tournament. The following are the scheduled fixtures:
| Stage / Group | Date | Matchup | Time (GMT) | Venue / Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | July 26 | Algeria vs Senegal | 17:00 | Rabat |
| Morocco vs Kenya | 20:00 | |||
| July 30 | Senegal vs Kenya | 17:00 | ||
| Morocco vs Algeria | 20:00 | |||
| August 3 | Senegal vs Morocco | 20:00 | ||
| Kenya vs Algeria | 20:00 | |||
| Group B | July 27 | South Africa vs Tanzania | 17:00 | Casablanca |
| Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso | 20:00 | |||
| July 31 | South Africa vs Ivory Coast | 17:00 | ||
| Burkina Faso vs Tanzania | 20:00 | |||
| August 4 | Burkina Faso vs South Africa | 20:00 | ||
| Tanzania vs Ivory Coast | 20:00 | |||
| Group C | July 28 | Zambia vs Egypt | 17:00 | Rabat |
| Nigeria vs Malawi | 20:00 | |||
| August 1 | Egypt vs Malawi | 17:00 | ||
| Nigeria vs Zambia | 20:00 | |||
| August 5 | Egypt vs Nigeria | 20:00 | ||
| Malawi vs Zambia | 20:00 | |||
| Group D | July 29 | Ghana vs Cape Verde | 17:00 | Casablanca |
| Cameroon vs Mali | 20:00 | |||
| August 2 | Ghana vs Cameroon | 17:00 | ||
| Mali vs Cape Verde | 20:00 | |||
| August 6 | Mali vs Ghana | 20:00 | ||
| Cape Verde vs Cameroon | 20:00 | |||
| Quarter-finals | August 8 | Winners Gr B vs Runners-up Gr A (QF2) | 17:00 | Casablanca |
| Winners Gr A vs Runners-up Gr B (QF1) | 20:00 | Rabat | ||
| August 9 | Winners Gr D vs Runners-up Gr C (QF4) | 17:00 | Casablanca | |
| Winners Gr C vs Runners-up Gr D (QF3) | 20:00 | Rabat | ||
| Play-offs | August 13 | Losers QF2 vs Losers QF3 | 17:00 | Casablanca |
| Losers QF1 vs Losers QF4 | 20:00 | |||
| Semi-finals | August 12 | Winners QF1 vs Winners QF4 | 17:00 | Rabat |
| Winners QF2 vs Winners QF3 | 20:00 | |||
| 3rd Place | August 15 | Semi-finals Losers | 17:00 | Rabat |
| Final | August 16 | Semi-finals Winners | 19:00 | Rabat |
Moreover, the tournament's history is rich, reflecting the evolution of women's football in Africa. The following is a list of past champions:
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Nigeria |
| 2000 | Nigeria |
| 2002 | Nigeria |
| 2004 | Nigeria |
| 2006 | Nigeria |
| 2008 | Equatorial Guinea |
| 2010 | Nigeria |
| 2012 | Equatorial Guinea |
| 2014 | Nigeria |
| 2016 | Nigeria |
| 2018 | Nigeria |
| 2020 | Cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic) |
| 2022 | South Africa |
| 2024 | Nigeria |
As reported by channelstv.com.
