Nigeria's women's team aims to retain championship as expanded 16-nation WAFCON tournament kicks off on July 26

In just 30 days, the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 will etch its name in history, marking the first time the premier women's football competition in Africa will feature 16 teams, up from the previous 12.

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The tournament is set to kick off on 26 July in Rabat, with the host nation, Morocco, facing off against Kenya at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium at 21h00 local time, which is 20h00 GMT.

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Earlier that day, another Group A fixture will take place at Rabat's Olympic Stadium, where Algeria will go head-to-head with Senegal.

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According to a statement released by CAF on a Friday, the Morocco 2026 tournament will be a significant milestone for the competition, as it expands to include 16 participating nations for the first time.

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CAF's expansion of the tournament is part of its broader strategy to strengthen women's football, which includes increasing participation opportunities, enhancing competition structures, and investing in football development across the continent.

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Now in its 14th edition, the tournament coincides with a surge in investment in women's football across Africa, reflecting the growing interest and support for the sport.

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CAF has noted that it has made substantial progress in growing and developing women's football over the past five years, during which time the prize money for the winners of the competition has increased from USD 150,000 to USD 1 million under the leadership of CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe.

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The 16 nations that have qualified for Morocco 2026 include hosts Morocco, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, defending champions Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.

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Matches will be held in Rabat and Casablanca across five CAF-approved venues, namely Stade Moulay El Hassan, Stade Al Madina, and Stade Olympique in Rabat, as well as Stade Larbi Zaouli and Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca.

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Nigeria will enter the tournament as the defending champions, having secured a record-extending 10th continental title in the previous edition, but CAF anticipates strong competition from various teams.

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CAF expects the Super Falcons to face stiff competition from hosts Morocco, former champions South Africa, traditional powerhouses like Cameroon, and emerging contenders such as Algeria, Zambia, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.

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Beyond the continental title, the tournament will also serve as a qualifying event for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027, adding an extra layer of significance to the competition.

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According to CAF, the four quarter-final winners will secure automatic qualification to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, while the four teams eliminated at that stage will still be in contention through the FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off pathway.

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With continued investment and increasingly competitive national teams, CAF expects the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON Morocco 2026 to be one of the most closely contested editions in the tournament's history.