Twelve countries have officially secured qualification for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) scheduled to hold in Morocco in 2026, following the conclusion of the two-round qualifying series.
The tournament hosts, Morocco, who finished as runners-up in the last two editions, will once again enjoy home support as they chase their first-ever WAFCON title, after coming close in 2022, losing 2–1 to South Africa in the final.
The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) confirmed the qualified nations in a statement on Wednesday.
Record champions Nigeria remain the team to watch. The Super Falcons, who have won the title 10 times, will be seeking an 11th continental crown as they look to reaffirm their dominance in African women’s football.
Ghana, who claimed third place in the previous tournament, enter the competition with renewed ambition. They will, however, face stiff competition from South Africa and Zambia, both of whom have established themselves as top contenders in recent years.
The 2026 edition will be memorable for two debutants — Cape Verde and Malawi — who have qualified for the finals for the first time in their history.
Elsewhere, Kenya and Burkina Faso make their return to the grand stage after years of absence, while Senegal, Algeria, and Tanzania sealed their places with impressive qualifying performances, reflecting the growing depth and competitiveness of women’s football across the continent.
Beyond the fight for continental glory, the 2026 WAFCON carries extra stakes. The top four teams will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, while two additional teams will advance to the intercontinental play-offs, making every match crucial.
