Women's AFCON 2026 to Kick off in Morocco Tonight

The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) gets underway in Morocco on Sunday, with 16 teams competing for the continental crown and Nigeria aiming to extend their record with an 11th title.

Originally scheduled for March, the tournament was postponed due to what the Confederation of African Football (CAF) described as "unforeseen circumstances" before being rescheduled for July 26 to August 16. Matches will be held in Rabat and Casablanca.

This edition marks the first WAFCON to feature 16 teams. Egypt, Cape Verde, Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire joined the competition through a rankings-based selection after the qualification process had ended, with Cape Verde and Malawi making their tournament debuts.

Nigeria enter the competition as defending champions after winning their 10th title in 2025. 

Led by captain Rasheedat Ajibade, the Super Falcons will rely on stars including Asisat Oshoala and Chiamaka Nnadozie, although defender Ashleigh Plumptre misses out through injury.

Hosts Morocco, runners-up in the last two editions, will once again challenge for their first WAFCON title, while South Africa and Zambia are also among the favourites after strong performances in recent tournaments.