Fresh Winner to Emerge at 2026 WAFCON

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is set to crown a new champion, as reigning titleholders Nigeria and 2022 winners South Africa were ousted in the quarter-finals, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

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Nigeria's Super Falcons, who have claimed 10 of the previous 13 tournament editions, were defeated by Cameroon on Sunday, with Myriam Wam's impressive 19th-minute free-kick proving to be the decisive factor.

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This marked Cameroon's second victory over Nigeria in the competition, while hosts Morocco had earlier ended South Africa's title defence with a 2-1 win in Rabat, securing their spot in the semi-finals and a berth in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

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South Africa had won the 2022 edition, before Nigeria reclaimed the title at the 2024 tournament, which took place in 2025, and the only other previous winners, Equatorial Guinea, have not qualified for the tournament since 2018.

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Nigeria remains the most successful team in WAFCON history, boasting a record 10 continental titles, and they dominated the competition from its inception, winning the first five editions between 1998 and 2006.

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Equatorial Guinea interrupted Nigeria's reign in 2008, but the Nigerians reclaimed the trophy in 2010, only to surrender it to Equatorial Guinea again in 2012, before winning three consecutive titles in 2014, 2016, and 2018.

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South Africa then emerged as champions in 2022, but Nigeria regained their continental crown at the 2024 WAFCON, staged in 2025, by coming from behind to defeat hosts Morocco in the final and secure their record-extending 10th African title.

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With Nigeria and South Africa eliminated, hosts Morocco are now among the favourites to claim their first WAFCON title, while Algeria, Cameroon, and either Ghana or Malawi remain in contention for the championship.

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The four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, and the four quarter-final losers will participate in a play-off tournament to determine Africa's two representatives at the inter-confederation play-offs.

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Nigeria will face South Africa on Thursday in Casablanca in a play-off for one of the remaining routes to the 2027 World Cup.