CAF said the decision is in line with its strategic vision to strengthen the competitiveness and development of women’s football.
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is getting bigger, and perhaps better.
Members of the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have approved the expansion of the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON from 12 to 16 teams.
The approval takes effect immediately, starting with the 14th edition to be hosted by Morocco from March 17 to April 03, 2026.
CAF in a statement said that since the qualification phase for the 2026 edition has already been completed, members of the executive committee approved the selection mechanism to determine the four additional teams.
“Based on the current FIFA women’s world rankings, the top four teams from those eliminated in the final qualifying round have been selected to complete the list of participants,” CAF said.
“The decision is in line with CAF’s strategic vision to strengthen the competitiveness and development of women’s football on the African continent.”
As such, Cameroon (66th in the FIFA ranking), Cote d’Ivoire (71), Mali (79) and Egypt (95) will join the football party Morocco.
They join the additional 12 nations already qualified for the tournament, consisting of hosts Morocco, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Algeria, defending champions Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Cape Verde, South Africa and Senegal.
Cape Verde and Malawi will make their maiden appearances in Morocco, while Kenya and Burkina Faso are making a return after spells away.
The 2026 TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON will serve as the continental qualifier for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists claiming direct tickets to the global finals.
Morocco hosted the last two WAFCON editions, losing both finals 1-2 to South Africa in 2022 and 2-3 to record champions Nigeria in 2024 respectively.
Since its inception in 1998, only three teams have won the WAFCON title: Nigeria (10 times), Equatorial Guinea twice – 2008 and 2012, and South Africa in 2022.
/SPNA
