When it was announced that the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) would expand from 12 to 16 teams, we knew the 2026 edition was going to be historic. What nobody could have predicted was the drama that unfolded across Rabat and Casablanca after just one round of matches.
Algeria captain Marine Dafeur opened the scoring from the penalty spot against Senegal, setting the tone for an entertaining opening matchday. Every game produced a winner, there were no goalless draws, and goals flowed freely as the continent’s finest attackers put on an early show.
Group A delivered the most predictable results, with North African sides Algeria and hosts Morocco opening their campaigns with comfortable victories and clean sheets against Senegal and Kenya respectively. Elsewhere, however, the tournament quickly came alive as the remaining groups produced drama, surprises and results few would have predicted.
Underdogs Tanzania took the game to 2022 champions and one of the tournament’s favourites, South Africa, scoring once in each half to secure a stunning 2–1 victory. The result handed Banyana Banyana an early reality check in their quest to secure one of the four World Cup qualification spots.
The other Group B fixture saw a West African derby between Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso that had it all—a red card overturned after a VAR review, a goalkeeper sent off and five goals. In the end, the Ivorians emerged as convincing 4–1 winners to finish Matchday One at the top of the group.
Group C was always going to be special. It featured the defending champions, a returning side making its first appearance in a decade and some of Africa’s most lethal forwards. Yet, few could have predicted the drama that unfolded, leaving fans in equal measure of disbelief and admiration.
Group C began with Zambia facing Egypt, who were making their first WAFCON appearance since the 2016 edition in Cameroon. It proved to be a brutal return, as the Copper Queens stormed to a 6–0 victory. Captain Barbara Banda led the charge with a remarkable haul, while 40-year-old Rachel Nachula etched her name into the history books by becoming the oldest player to score at a WAFCON finals, surpassing Nigeria’s Perpetual Nwokocha, who set the previous record at 38.
The biggest talking point of Matchday One, however, came later that evening, when two sisters made history in what was already a landmark occasion for their country.
Tournament debutants Malawi leaned on the brilliance of sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga. Temwa struck twice, while Tabitha added the third, as the pair inspired a stunning 3–2 victory over defending champions and record 10-time winners Nigeria.
It was a night to forget for Nigeria but one that Malawi will celebrate for years to come. A true “TT Show” from Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga inspired the debutants to a famous first-ever WAFCON victory.
It was, however, the opposite story for fellow debutants Cape Verde, who were beaten 2–0 by Ghana as the Black Queens got their campaign off to the perfect start. Cameroon then rounded off Matchday One with a hard-fought 2–0 victory over Mali.
Thirty goals, stunning upsets and history-making performances have already made this an unforgettable start to WAFCON 2026. With giants like Nigeria and South Africa desperate to respond and the race for the knockout stage only just beginning, Matchday Two promises even more drama.
