The countdown to the biggest celebration of women’s football in Africa has officially begun, with just 30 days remaining until the start of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026.
Africa’s premier women’s football competition will kick off on July 26 in Rabat, Morocco, with hosts Morocco taking on East African representatives Kenya at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium. The opening fixture is scheduled to begin at 21:00 local time (20:00 GMT).
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Earlier on the opening day, Algeria will face Senegal in the other Group A encounter at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, with kick-off set for 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT).
Sports247 reports that the 2026 edition marks the 14th staging of the tournament and promises to be a historic one, reflecting the tremendous growth and increasing competitiveness of women’s football across the African continent.
A major highlight of the competition is its expansion from 12 to 16 participating teams for the first time in history. The landmark decision forms part of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) long-term strategy to enhance women’s football through increased participation, improved competition structures, and greater investment in the development of the game.
CAF has made significant strides in advancing women’s football over the past few years. Under the leadership of CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, prize money for the tournament winners has risen dramatically from $150,000 to $1 million, underlining the confederation’s commitment to elevating the status of the women’s game.
The 16 nations that will compete for continental glory in Morocco are 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.
For defending champions Nigeria’s Super Falcons, the tournament presents another opportunity to extend their dominance in African women’s football and defend the title they won in the previous edition.
With one month remaining before the opening whistle, anticipation continues to build across the continent as Africa’s finest women’s national teams prepare for a historic and highly competitive edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
