By Samuel Akpan
Africa’s top women’s football tournament is set to make history in 30 days when the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 expands to 16 teams for the first time and offers a direct path to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“Morocco 2026 will mark a significant milestone in the history of the Competition, with the final tournament expanding from 12 to 16 participating nations for the first time,” CAF said in a statement emailed to Persecondnews on Friday.
The expansion is central to the governing body’s long-term plan for the women’s game.
“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 statement added.
CAF pointed to concrete progress in recent years under President Dr Patrice Motsepe.
“CAF has made significant progress in growing and developing women’s football. Over the last five years, the prize money for the winners of the Competition has increased from USD 150,000 to USD 1 million under CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe.”
Sixteen nations will contest the 14th edition of the tournament: 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.
The competition opens on 26 July in Rabat with two Group A fixtures. Hosts Morocco face Kenya at Moulay El Hassan Stadium from 21h00 local time (20h00 GMT), while Algeria take on Senegal earlier the same day at the Olympic Stadium.
All matches will be played across five CAF-approved venues in Rabat and Casablanca: Stade Moulay El Hassan, Stade Al Madina and Stade Olympique in Rabat, together with Stade Larbi Zaouli and Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca.
Nigeria will defend the title they won for a record-extending 10th time at the previous edition.
“The Super Falcons are expected to face strong competition from across the continent, including hosts Morocco, former champions South Africa, traditional powerhouses such as Cameroon and emerging contenders including Algeria, Zambia, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire,” CAF said.
Beyond the continental crown, the tournament carries extra weight as Africa’s qualifying event for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
“Adding further significance, this year’s finals will serve as Africa’s qualification tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027,” CAF noted.
“The four quarter-final winners will secure automatic qualification to the global showpiece, while the four teams eliminated at that stage will remain in contention through the FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off pathway.”
The expanded format and heightened stakes reflect the steady rise of women’s football on the continent, with more nations now able to compete at the highest level and greater resources flowing into the game than ever before.