Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2026: 16 Teams, Morocco Hosts
Key Points
- The tournament begins July 26 in Morocco across five stadiums in Rabat and Casablanca, with the final scheduled for August 16.
- Nigeria are defending champions, while Ghana, Zambia, and Morocco are among the pre-tournament favorites.
- World-class players including Zambia's Racheal Kundananji and Barbra Banda, plus Nigeria's Rasheedat Ajibade will compete for continental bragging rights.
The tournament will span five stadiums across two cities: Moulay El Hassan Stadium (22,000 capacity) and Olympic Stadium (21,000 capacity) in Rabat, plus Al Medina Stadium (18,000 capacity) also in Rabat. In Casablanca, matches will be held at Larbi Zaouli Stadium (20,000 capacity) and Moulay Rachid Stadium (25,000 capacity). Matches initially scheduled for Fez have been relocated to Casablanca. The final venue remains unconfirmed, to be held at either Moulay Hassan Stadium or the 69,500-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Group stage play runs July 26 through August 6, followed by quarterfinals on August 8-9, semifinals on August 12, and playoffs on August 13. The final is scheduled for August 16 in Rabat. Kickoff times will be 17:00 GMT and 20:00 GMT throughout the group stage and knockout rounds, with the final kicking off at 19:00 GMT.
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Morocco will host WAFCON for the third consecutive edition, after also hosting in 2022 and 2024. The scheduling change reflects complications from January's men's Africa Cup of Nations final held in Rabat, which Morocco lost 1-0 to Senegal in a match marked by on-field and off-field controversy. CAF later awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory after several Senegal players left the pitch in protest of a penalty decision.
The tournament opener features Algeria facing Senegal, with Morocco playing Kenya on the same day. Successful qualification at WAFCON determines which African nations advance to the 2027 Women's World Cup, making the stakes significant beyond the continental title.
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What Happens Next
Nigeria's status as defending champions and 10-time winners positions them as favorites, though Ghana, Zambia, and host nation Morocco present strong challenges. The tournament's condensed four-month delay from its original schedule could affect team preparation and fitness levels. Morocco's hosting experience across three consecutive editions may provide a tactical advantage despite logistical complications from the men's tournament earlier this year. Nigeria's track record suggests they remain the team to beat, but the depth of talent across participating nations indicates a competitive field.
Sources: AP, Reuters, ESPN, Bloomberg, BBC and other international news outlets.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Content is based on publicly available news sources.
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