The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament kicks off Sunday in Morocco. 16 teams across the continent will compete for not just a title, but also a shot at qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The 34-match tournament will run from July 26 through Aug. 16, with matches taking place in Rabat and Casablanca. WAFCON was originally scheduled to be played in Morocco earlier this year, but was postponed due “unforeseen circumstances.” No further explanation was given for the delay, though some speculated it was related to conflict in the Middle East. And for some time, it was up in the air whether or not Morocco would host the rescheduled tournament. The original host country maintained the privilege, but Fes, which was originally slated to host matches, is no longer among the host cities.
This year’s tournament will be the biggest WAFCON to date. For the first time, the field has expanded from 12 teams to 16, with Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali and Egypt added based on their rankings rather than through the qualification process. The tournament also features two debutants: Malawi and Cape Verde.
The format of the tournament itself is straightforward: the 16 teams are divided into four groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. From there, naturally, it’s win or go home. But there’s an added incentive this time around. In addition to a trophy and prize money, the top four WAFCON finishers will qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria, unsurprisingly, enters as the team to beat. The Super Falcons won their record 10th WAFCON title in 2025 and sit atop ESPN’s pre-tournament power rankings. They’re followed by host Morocco, then South Africa, Ghana and Zambia.
Nigeria’s roster is loaded with big names, including captain Rasheedat Ajibade, striker Asisat Oshoala and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, though the team will be without defender Ashleigh Plumptre as she recovers from foot surgery. Esther Okoronkwo is another player to watch after her breakout performance at the last WAFCON. The AFC Toronto forward finished that tournament with two goals and six assists, and was especially crucial in the championship match.
But Nigeria certainly isn’t guaranteed their 11th title. Morocco has finished runner-up at each of the past two WAFCONs and will now get another shot at the trophy in front of a home crowd, and they want it — badly. Captain Ghizlane Chebbak, now 35, has won the Golden Boot at each of the past two tournaments, scoring eight goals across two competitions. This is potentially her last chance to win WAFCON, so there’s plenty at stake for her and her country.
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South Africa, Ghana and Zambia are also in the mix, and Zambia in particular should not be underestimated. NWSL stars Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji each scored at the last WAFCON. Together, they give Zambia one of the more dangerous attacks in the tournament.
And they aren’t the only familiar names for NWSL fans. Malawi will make its tournament debut, led by sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga. Tabitha plays for OL Lyonnes, while Temwa has become one of the biggest stars in the NWSL with the Kansas City Current, winning league MVP in back-to-back seasons. Malawi is likely to make some noise in their first WAFCON, and it will almost certainly be because of the Chawinga sisters.
Ghana, ranked fourth by ESPN, features Princess Marfo and Evelyn Badu, while some of the tournament’s lower-ranked teams have intriguing players of their own. Kenya goalkeeper Lillian Awuor, who plays professionally in Romania, could be particularly busy: Kenya enters WAFCON as the lowest-ranked team in the field, so even getting out of the group would be a significant upset. Egypt, ranked 11th, will rely in part on Al Ahly forward Nadine Ghazi as it returns to the tournament.
The expanded field makes this WAFCON somewhat harder to predict. Behind the pretty undisputed top five of Nigeria, Morocco, South Africa, Ghana and Zambia, ESPN ranks Senegal sixth, followed by Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, Egypt and Burkina Faso. Cape Verde, Tanzania, Malawi and Kenya finish out the rankings.
Though this tournament has upset potential, the favorites are pretty clear. Nigeria is chasing an 11th title. Morocco is trying to turn two straight runner-up finishes — and home-field advantage — into its first. And South Africa, Ghana and Zambia all have enough talent to get in the way of Nigeria and Morocco. But for everyone, there’s a second goal to chase. With four World Cup spots available, a team doesn’t need to win WAFCON to leave Morocco having accomplished something huge.
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