WAFCON 2026
July 22 – August 10, 2026 Updated Aug 10
Every published chapter of The Fold's coverage of WAFCON 2026, in one place — oldest to newest, updated as the story develops.
WAFCON opens in Morocco on Sunday with 16 teams and 2027 World Cup places at stake
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations begins July 26 in Rabat, expanded from 12 teams to 16. The four semi-finalists qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
WAFCON opens in Morocco with Algeria beating Senegal 2-0
The expanded Women’s Africa Cup of Nations began in Morocco on Sunday, with Algeria beating Senegal 2-0 in the opening match. Hosts Morocco face Kenya later the same day.
WAFCON 2026: Malawi beat Nigeria on their tournament debut, and Africa’s World Cup places will be settled in the quarter-finals
The ten-time champions lost 3–2 to a side playing its first match at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and the holders of the other big record lost too. CAF’s own bracket shows why the decisive round comes on 8 and 9 August, not in the final.
Zambia had the best goal difference at WAFCON and went out. CAF’s published rulebook describes a different tournament
Zambia left the group stage on +6, better than any of the four group winners, eliminated on the third head-to-head tie-break. The only Women’s Africa Cup of Nations regulations CAF publishes are for a 12-team competition.
Cameroon lost in WAFCON qualifying. They are going to the World Cup
CAF expanded the tournament to 16 teams after qualifying had finished and filled the places by ranking. Two of the four invited teams won their groups; one has now taken a direct place at Brazil 2027.