Super Falcons will begin their quest for a record-extending 11th title when the expanded 16-team TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026 kicks off on July 26.
The tournament will make history as the first edition to feature 16 teams, up from 12, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) continues efforts to grow the women’s game across the continent.
Hosts Morocco will face Kenya in the opening match at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat at 21:00 local time (20:00 GMT), while Algeria will take on Senegal earlier the same day at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
In a statement on Friday, CAF described the expansion as a landmark moment for African women’s football.
“Morocco 2026 will mark a significant milestone in the history of the Competition, with the final tournament expanding from 12 to 16 participating nations for the first time,” CAF said.
ALSO READ: WAFCON 2026: NFF dispels Plumptre’s exclusion rumour
According to the continental governing body, the increase in participating teams is part of a broader strategy to strengthen women’s football through greater participation, improved competition structures and increased investment.
The 16 qualified teams are hosts Morocco, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, defending champions Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
Matches will be played across five CAF-approved venues in Rabat and Casablanca.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons head into the tournament as the continent’s most successful team after winning a record 10 WAFCON titles. CAF, however, expects strong competition from several countries, including hosts Morocco, former champions South Africa, Cameroon, Zambia, Ghana, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire.
Beyond the continental title, the tournament also serves as Africa’s qualification competition for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
“The four quarter-final winners will secure automatic qualification to the global showpiece, while the four teams eliminated at that stage will remain in contention through the FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off pathway,” CAF said.
CAF also highlighted the growth of women’s football under its current administration, noting that prize money for the tournament winners has increased from $150,000 to $1 million over the past five years under CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe.
The governing body added that with increased investment and improving standards across the continent, WAFCON Morocco 2026 is expected to be one of the most competitive editions in the tournament’s history.
