CAF expands 2026 Women’s AFCON to 16 teams

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expanded the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) to 16 teams, adding four nations to the tournament following the completion of the qualification process.

Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Egypt have been included despite failing to qualify, after CAF’s Executive Committee approved the expansion. The decision was based on their ranking among the highest-placed teams that lost in the final qualifying round.

The four teams will join Morocco (hosts), Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Cape Verde, South Africa, and Senegal for the competition, which will take place from March 17 to April 3, 2026.

CAF described the move as part of its "strategic vision to strengthen the competitiveness and development of women’s football on the continent."

Nigeria are the reigning champions, having won the 2024 edition in July after the tournament was postponed by a year. CAF had shifted the competition to a summer schedule to align with the men’s version, though this created a clash with the Olympic Games, where both Nigeria and Zambia also qualified to participate.