The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the expansion of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) from 12 to 16 teams.
The new format will take effect from the 2026 edition, which Morocco will host.
Twelve nations, including defending champions Nigeria, have already secured qualification for the tournament. They will be joined by four additional teams — Cameroon (66th), Côte d’Ivoire (71st), Mali (79th), and Egypt (95th) — selected based on the current FIFA Women’s World Ranking among those eliminated in the final qualifying round.
CAF stated that the decision to expand the competition aligns with its long-term vision to “strengthen women’s football and promote inclusivity across the continent.”
The revised format is designed to increase competitiveness and create more opportunities for African nations to demonstrate their progress on the continental stage.
The WAFCON 2026 finals will be held from March 17 to April 3, 2026, and will also serve as the African qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.