The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially approved the expansion of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) from 12 to 16 teams, marking a significant milestone in the growth of women’s football on the continent.
The new format will take effect from the next edition of the tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco in 2026.
Already, 12 teams, including defending champions Nigeria’s Super Falcons and hosts Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses, have secured qualification for the tournament.
CAF confirmed that the remaining four slots will be filled by the highest-ranked teams among those eliminated in the final qualifying round, based on their current FIFA Women’s World Rankings.
As a result, Cameroon, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Egypt will join the qualified nations to complete the 16-team lineup.
The 2026 WAFCON finals are scheduled to take place from March 17 to April 3, 2026, and will also serve as the African qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
CAF described the expansion as part of its commitment to enhancing competitiveness and inclusivity in women’s football across Africa.
