Morocco is set to make history by hosting the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) for the third consecutive time in 2026. With the qualifying path now officially announced, 38 nations are ready to battle for a chance to join Morocco in this prestigious tournament. This year’s lineup has slightly fewer participants than the 42 that competed in the 2024 qualifiers.
The qualification process features two rounds of home-and-away ties to determine the 11 teams that will secure a spot at the finals alongside the host nation, Morocco.
First-Round Matches (February 17–26, 2025):
- Angola vs. Zimbabwe
- Malawi vs. Congo-Brazzaville
- Botswana vs. DR Congo
- Tanzania vs. Equatorial Guinea
- Uganda vs. Ethiopia
- Eswatini vs. Namibia
- Burundi vs. Burkina Faso
- Djibouti vs. Togo
- South Sudan vs. Algeria
- Rwanda vs. Egypt
- Kenya vs. Tunisia
- Niger vs. The Gambia
- Benin vs. Sierra Leone
- Guinea vs. Cape Verde
- Gabon vs. Mali
- Chad vs. Senegal
Second-Round Matches (October 20–28, 2025):
- Angola or Zimbabwe vs. Malawi or Congo-Brazzaville
- Botswana or DR Congo vs. South Africa
- Tanzania or Equatorial Guinea vs. Uganda or Ethiopia
- Eswatini or Namibia vs. Zambia
- Burundi or Burkina Faso vs. Djibouti or Togo
- South Sudan or Algeria vs. Cameroon
- Rwanda or Egypt vs. Ghana
- Kenya or Tunisia vs. Niger or The Gambia
- Benin or Sierra Leone vs. Nigeria
- Guinea or Cape Verde vs. Gabon or Mali
- Chad or Senegal vs. Ivory Coast
Botswana and DR Congo face one of the toughest paths to qualification. After their first-round matchup, the winner must take on the reigning champions, South Africa, in the second round—a challenging prospect for both nations.
Reflecting on the past, Morocco has a storied history with Wafcon, having also hosted the 2022 finals. Meanwhile, the delayed 2024 Wafcon finals will now be held in Morocco from July 5–26, 2025, after being rescheduled due to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Excitement for Wafcon 2026 continues to build as fans anticipate thrilling matches and incredible displays of talent from across the continent. While the tournament’s exact dates are yet to be confirmed, Morocco’s role as host nation firmly establishes the country as a key hub for international women’s football.
As the qualifiers kick off, every team will be pushing to join Morocco in this historic event. Stay tuned as African women’s football continues to reach new heights on the global stage.
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