Super Falcons seek title defence as 16-team WAFCON begins July 26

The TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 is set to make history as it expands to a 16-team format for the first time when the tournament kicks off on July 26 in Rabat. Hosts Morocco will face Kenya in the opening match at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium.

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Morocco 2026 will mark a significant milestone in the history of the Competition, with the final tournament expanding from 12 to 16 participating nations for the first time.

This expansion is a key part of CAF's strategy to bolster women's football by providing more participation opportunities and enhancing competition structures. The governing body has also significantly increased prize money, with the winners' purse rising from $150,000 to $1 million over the last five years, under CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe.

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The expansion forms part of CAF’s broader women’s football strategy to strengthen the women’s game through increased participation opportunities, enhanced competition structures and greater investment in football development across the continent.

Sixteen nations will compete for the continental title: Morocco, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, defending champions Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. Matches will be held in Rabat and Casablanca across five CAF-approved venues.

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CAF has made significant progress in growing and developing women’s football. Over the last five years, the prize money for the winners of the Competition has increased from USD 150,000 to USD 1 million under CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe.

Beyond the continental crown, the tournament also serves as Africa's qualification pathway for the FIFA Women's World Cup Brazil 2027. The four quarter-final winners will secure automatic berths, while the teams eliminated at that stage will enter a playoff pathway for a chance to qualify for the global showpiece.

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The Super Falcons are expected to face strong competition from across the continent, including hosts Morocco, former champions South Africa, traditional powerhouses such as Cameroon and emerging contenders including Algeria, Zambia, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.