The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced an expansion of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) from 12 to 16 teams.
The decision, approved by CAF’s Executive Committee, adds four additional nations to the tournament lineup following the conclusion of the qualification process.
Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Egypt have been granted entry despite exiting in the final qualifying round. Their inclusion is based on their rankings among the highest-placed eliminated teams.
The four nations will join hosts Morocco, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Cape Verde, South Africa, and Senegal at the continental showpiece.
The 2026 WAFCON is scheduled to take place from March 17 to April 3, 2026, in Morocco.
CAF stated that the expansion aligns with its strategic vision to enhance competitiveness and accelerate the growth of women’s football across Africa.
Nigeria enter the tournament as defending champions, having clinched the 2024 title in July after the event was postponed by one year.