The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced an expansion of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations from 12 to 16 teams, starting with the 2026 edition in Morocco.
This decision reflects CAF’s commitment to strengthening women’s football and promoting inclusivity across Africa.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will feature 16 teams competing from March 17 to April 3, 2026. The teams include :
Automatic Qualifiers:
– Morocco (hosts)
– Zambia (defending champions)
– South Africa
– Nigeria
– Ghana
– Senegal
– Algeria
– Tanzania
– Malawi
– Burkina Faso
– Kenya
– Cape Verde
Reinstated Teams (via FIFA Rankings):
– Cameroon
– Côte d’Ivoire
– Mali
– Egypt
This expansion aims to enhance competitiveness and provide more opportunities for nations to showcase their growth on the African stage. The tournament will also serve as the African qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the top four finishers earning direct tickets.
