The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has expanded the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations from 12 to 16 teams, reports Completesports.com.
The expansion will begin from the 2026 edition which will be hosted by Morocco.
12 countries including defending champions Nigeria have already booked their place in the competition.
They have been joined by the four best-ranked teams according to the current FIFA Women’s World Ranking, among those eliminated in the final qualifying round.
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The four countries are; Cameroon ( 66th ), Côte d’Ivoire (71st), Mali (79th) and Egypt (95th).
CAF said the expansion reflects its broader vision to strengthen women’s football and promote inclusivity across the continent.
The new format is expected to enhance competitiveness and provide more opportunities for nations to showcase their growth on the African stage.
The WAFCON 2026 finals will run from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
It will serve as the qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
1 Comment
It is worth reiterating a point I made on one of the Super Falcons posts here yesterday because NFF is a dumb house:
……
NFF, we know you are an unthinking organization, Ghana’s Black queens are playing England in a friendly on December 2nd – one month away.
What have you planned for the super falcons?
Mali, Cameroon, Egypt and Cote d’ivoire have just been given the remaining slots for the 16 teams WAFCON next year.
This is why I never support having local coaches for the falcons. They can’t compel NFF, who they always kowtow, to fix grade A friendlies for the team.
WAFCON henceforth will no longer have fewer pretenders to the throne anymore but real threats with 15 other nations going forward.
And this cup will be on the line every 24 months so any nation that chooses to balkanize or not have succession plan for their aging players and carry unintelligent, bribe giving, agent-facilitated players for their cadet teams will have a hard time challenging for trophies in subsequent WAFCON championships.
Ghana carried a largely youthful squad and got bronze last July. Now, they are getting exposed to the European back to back champions and NFF is pretending the hedge of falcons hasn’t broken.
Dey play. Definitely, other nations will play friendlies also but who is planning falcons’? Madugu? Eguavoen? Gusau?
To hell with NFF, really because if (not when) they wake from their slumber, they might look around for a very weak opponent to deceive themselves they are preparing the women.
May this NFF not happen to Nigerian football again.
Make I no con be sympathizer wey dey weep more than the bereaved.
They can bury our women’s football for all I care
After all, we can’t even win wafu B competitions again.
Thank God for CAF who hasn’t prepared formal women’s u17 and u20 cups. We fit no even qualify in the first place
Now, the target is to crumble falcons with the illpreparation that blighted the younger teams.
Tor. Winning WAFCON might not be our birthright after all. Haven’t we won it enough sef?
………
How fast can Gusau first tenure end, oh, it’s next September. Problem (in Kiekie’s voice).