Countdown begins as expanded WAFCON 2026 nears kick‑off in Morocco

Countdown begins as expanded WAFCON 2026 nears kick‑off in Morocco

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This year's championship marks a historic chapter for African women's football as the tournament expands from 12 to 16 teams for the first time.

Africa's biggest women's football spectacle is now just 30 days away, with the countdown to the CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026 officially underway ahead of the tournament's opening match on July 26.
Hosts Morocco will launch the 14th edition of the continental showpiece against Kenya at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, while Algeria and Senegal will meet earlier the same day in the other Group A fixture at the Olympic Stadium.
This year's championship marks a historic chapter for African women's football as the tournament expands from 12 to 16 teams for the first time. The increase is part of CAF's long-term strategy to broaden participation, raise competition standards and accelerate the growth of the women's game across the continent.
The expanded field features hosts Morocco, defending champions Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Senegal, Mali, Malawi, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde, all chasing continental glory.
Matches will be played across five CAF-approved venues in Rabat and Casablanca, providing world-class facilities for what is expected to be the most competitive edition of the tournament to date.
The championship also carries enormous significance beyond the continental title. The tournament will determine Africa's representatives at the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists earning automatic qualification. The four teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will still have another opportunity to qualify through the FIFA Women's World Cup play-off pathway.
CAF's continued investment in women's football has transformed the competition in recent years. Prize money for the champions has risen dramatically from $150,000 (Sh19.2 million) to $1 million (Sh125 million) over the past five years, reflecting the governing body's commitment to strengthening the women's game across Africa.
As the final month of preparations begins, expectations continue to build for a tournament that promises elite competition, historic milestones and another major step forward for women's football on the continent.

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