The Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2026: An Expanded Competition
The highly anticipated Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 is set to take place in Morocco from July 26 to August 16, 2026. This edition marks a significant milestone in the history of the tournament, expanding for the first time to include 16 nations competing across four groups, with matches held in the vibrant cities of Rabat and Casablanca. The excitement surrounding this event is palpable, as it not only showcases the talent of female footballers across the continent but also highlights the growing popularity and support for women's sports.
Group Stages and Match Schedule
The draw for the tournament took place on January 15, 2026, in Rabat, resulting in the following groups:
- Group A – Rabat: Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya
- Group B – Casablanca: South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Tanzania
- Group C – Rabat: Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi
- Group D – Casablanca: Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde
The group stage matches will kick off on Sunday, July 26, 2026. Below is the schedule for the opening matches:
- Sunday, July 26:
18:00 - Algeria vs Senegal, Olympic Stadium, Rabat
21:00 - Morocco vs Kenya, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat - Monday, July 27:
18:00 - South Africa vs Tanzania, Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
21:00 - Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca - Tuesday, July 28:
18:00 - Zambia vs Egypt, Olympic Stadium, Rabat
21:00 - Nigeria vs Malawi, Al Madina Stadium, Rabat - Wednesday, July 29:
18:00 - Ghana vs Cape Verde, Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
21:00 - Cameroon vs Mali, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca - Thursday, July 30:
18:00 - Senegal vs Kenya, Olympic Stadium, Rabat
21:00 - Morocco vs Algeria, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat - Friday, July 31:
18:00 - South Africa vs Ivory Coast, Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
21:00 - Burkina Faso vs Tanzania, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca - Saturday, August 1:
18:00 - Egypt vs Malawi, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
21:00 - Nigeria vs Zambia, Al Madina Stadium, Rabat - Sunday, August 2:
18:00 - Ghana vs Cameroon, Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
21:00 - Mali vs Cape Verde, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca - Monday, August 3:
21:00 - Senegal vs Morocco, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
21:00 - Kenya vs Algeria, Olympic Stadium, Rabat - Tuesday, August 4:
21:00 - Burkina Faso vs South Africa, Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
21:00 - Tanzania vs Ivory Coast, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca - Wednesday, August 5:
21:00 - Egypt vs Nigeria, Olympic Stadium, Rabat
21:00 - Malawi vs Zambia, Al Madina Stadium, Rabat - Thursday, August 6:
21:00 - Mali vs Ghana, Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
21:00 - Cape Verde vs Cameroon, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
The knockout stages will follow, with the quarter-finals scheduled for August 8 and 9, the semi-finals on August 12 in Rabat, and the World Cup 2027 playoff matches set for August 13. The third-place playoff is slated for August 15, culminating in the grand final on August 16, 2026, at 20:00 in Rabat. This tournament promises to be a remarkable showcase of talent, determination, and the spirit of African women's football.
As reported by actucameroun.com.
