When the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 begins in 30 days, it will create history as the continent’s top women’s football championship expands from 12 to 16 teams for the first time.
At 21:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on July 26, hosts Morocco will play Kenya at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat to kick off the tournament.
Algeria will play Senegal in the other Group A match at Rabat’s Olympic Stadium earlier that day.
“With the final tournament expanding from 12 to 16 participating nations for the first time, Morocco 2026 will mark a significant milestone in the Competition’s history,” CAF stated on its website on Friday.
“The expansion forms part of CAF’s broader women’s football strategy to strengthen the women’s game through increased participation opportunities, enhanced competition structures, and greater investment in football development across the continent,” the organization stated.
The competition, which is currently in its 14th edition, comes at a time when funding for women’s sports in Africa is increasing.
The governing body declared, “CAF has made significant progress in growing and developing women’s football.” “Under CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the prize money for the Competition winners has increased from USD 150,000 to USD 1 million over the last five years.”
The hosts Morocco, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Mali, as well as the reigning champions Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia, are among the sixteen countries who have qualified for Morocco 2026.
Five CAF-approved locations—Stade Moulay El Hassan, Stade Al Madina, and Stade Olympique in Rabat, as well as Stade Larbi Zaouli and Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca—will host matches.
Nigeria, who won the previous edition’s record-extending 10th continental title, will be the reigning champions, although CAF anticipates fierce competition across the board.
According to CAF, “the Super Falcons are expected to face strong competition from across the continent, including hosts Morocco, former champions South Africa, traditional powerhouses like Cameroon, and emerging contenders like Algeria, Zambia, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.”
In addition to the regional championship, there will be a chance to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
“This year’s finals will serve as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027, adding even more significance,” CAF stated.
“The four teams eliminated at that stage will remain in contention through the FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off pathway, while the four quarterfinal winners will automatically qualify for the global showpiece.”
The TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON Morocco 2026 “is expected to be one of the most closely contested editions in the tournament’s history,” according to CAF, given ongoing funding and more competitive national teams.
