Super Falcons Aim to Defend Title as Expanded 16-Team WAFCON Kicks Off July 26, WWC Format Decided

According to Punch on Friday, June 2026, the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026 is set to make history as it kicks off in just 30 days, marking the first time the continent’s premier women’s football tournament will feature 16 teams, up from 12.

The tournament will open on July 26 in Rabat, with hosts Morocco taking on Kenya at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium at 9:00 pm local time (8:00 pm GMT). Earlier that day, Algeria will face Senegal in the other Group A fixture at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium.

CAF described the expansion as a landmark moment in the competition’s history, part of a broader strategy to boost women’s football across Africa by increasing participation, improving competition formats, and investing more in football development.

Now in its 14th edition, WAFCON arrives amid growing investment in women’s football across the continent. CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe has overseen a significant increase in prize money, with the winner’s purse rising from USD 150,000 to USD 1 million over the past five years.

The 16 qualified nations for Morocco 2026 include hosts 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 including Stade Moulay El Hassan, Stade Al Madina, and Stade Olympique in Rabat, alongside Stade Larbi Zaouli and Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons arrive as defending champions, having secured a record-extending 10th continental title at the last edition. However, CAF expects stiff competition from across the continent, including hosts Morocco, former champions South Africa, traditional powerhouses Cameroon, and rising contenders such as Algeria, Zambia, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.