Exactly a year after the final whistle of the previous edition, the curtain will rise on the 14th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). Here’s everything you need to know as Africa’s finest women’s national teams gather once again.
THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
Nigeria’s Super Falcons are the team to beat for the throne as they were crowned for a record 10th time in Rabat on 26th July, 2025 after they pulled a comeback to defeat host Morocco 3-2 in an iconic final.
With a 78.5% win ratio at the tournament in the previous 13th editions; they return to the city of Rabat to defend their crown and get on the plane to Brazil.
THE CONTENDERS
Apart from holders Nigeria who will be seeking their record extending 11th; teams like former champions South Africa, serial finalists and host Morocco, Western Africa powerhouse and bronze medalists in the last edition Ghana and even darkhouses like Zambia are all teams vying for the crown.
South Africa led by Desiree Ellis; the same coach who led them to glory finally in 2022 after years of trying but falling short and a top four finish in the last edition will be banking on their experience on Moroccan soil to go all the way.
Morocco are coming to this edition after losing consecutive finals in 2022 and 2025 to South Africa and Nigeria respectively. As the host a historic third time in a row; they be counting on factors like home support and blend of experience and youth to take them to yet another final and this time, be ‘third time lucky’ as they hope to cross the finish line.
Zambia with the fearsome duo of their captain Barbara Banda and Rachel Kundananji leading their attack again will look to go all the way same as the Black Queens of Ghana who through their preparations this year leading to the tournament have hinted that they want to go two steps better than their third-place finish in the last edition.
THE ROAD TO BRAZIL
Now more than just continental glory, the teams at this edition will be fighting for the four tickets to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil next summer.
The four semifinalists are assured to battle the rest of the World in South America roughly a year from now and attempt to unseat Spain as champions.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons are part of an elite seven countries – Brazil, Germany, Norway, Japan, Sweden, USA and Nigeria – who have qualified for every edition of the World Cup since inception in 1991 and will be frontrunners again to pick one of the available tickets seeing they have never finished outside a top four spot before at a WAFCON tournament.
A BIGGER POT
The 2026 edition is an expanded version that will see the teams who compete move from 12 to 16 teams shared evenly into four groups. While the other 11 countries aside from hosts Morocco all qualified through the qualifiers in October 2025; Cameroon, Cote d’ivoire, Mali and Egypt were selected to complete the 16 as they qualified based on rankings outside the already qualified teams
THE NEWCOMERS
It has been a long time coming for Malawi who will finally have some of the biggest names ever in their history compete at the biggest stage. They will be joined by fellow debutant Cape Verde whose country as a whole seem to be on a Cinderella kind of run in their football generally.
THE STARS TO WATCH
While football is a team sport; individual players do set themselves aside as symbols of inspiration for their teammates and their country either through their ability on the pitch, leadership in the team or even both.
These are some players whose names rings bells in the minds of the opponents and their compatriots:
Nigeria: Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo
Zambia: Barbara Banda and Rachel Kundananji
Morocco: Ghizlane Chebbak
Ghana: Princess Marfo
Malawi: Temwa Chawinga and Tabitha Chawinga
THE PRIZE MONEY
While addressing the media in Johannesburg on 21st July 2026; CAF President, Doctor Patrice Motsepe announced a prize money increase for the WAFCON making it consecutive upgrade in back to back editions.
The total pool jumps from $3.475 million to $5 million (67% increase) where the winner pockets $2 million which is a 100% increase from the last edition.
The runner-up now gets $750,000 which is a 50% increase while all 16 participating teams will earn $150,000(20% increase) each as Participation Fund.
So while club football beckons soon; the ladies of the African continent promise a showpiece to remember from July 26th to August 16th.
