Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026: What to know about the tournament

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that the delayed 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is set to open in Morocco on Sunday, with 16 teams competing for the continental title and places at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Algeria and Senegal are scheduled to play the first match, while hosts Morocco meet Kenya the same day. The final is due on August 16 in Rabat, after a 22-day tournament featuring group games, quarterfinals, semifinals and playoff matches tied to World Cup qualification.

The competition is being staged in Rabat and Casablanca, across five named stadiums, after matches initially listed for Fez were moved. CAF had originally scheduled the tournament for March 17 to April 3, but postponed it shortly before kickoff, citing unspecified “unforeseen circumstances”. Al Jazeera notes that Reuters and other agencies reported Morocco sought a date change, while CAF did not give more detail.

This edition expands WAFCON from 12 to 16 teams for the first time. The groups include Morocco, Algeria, Senegal and Kenya in Group A; South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania in Group B; Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt and Malawi in Group C; and Ghana, Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde in Group D. Cape Verde and Malawi are making their tournament debuts.

Nigeria, the defending champion and record 10-time winner, enters as a leading contender, with Ghana, Zambia and Morocco also highlighted among the favourites. Players to watch include Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji and Barbra Banda, Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade, and Malawi sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga. The four semifinalists will qualify directly for the Women’s World Cup, while losing quarterfinalists enter playoffs for intercontinental playoff places.