The 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will usher in a new era for women’s football on the continent when the tournament kicks off in Morocco in 30 days, with the competition expanding from 12 to 16 teams for the first time, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The tournament will get underway on July 26 in Rabat, where hosts Morocco will face Kenya at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium at 9:00 p.m. local time (8:00 p.m. GMT). Earlier on the opening day, Algeria will take on Senegal in the other Group A fixture at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
In a statement published on its official website, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) described the expanded tournament as a landmark moment in the growth of women's football across Africa.
“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 stated.
According to the continental governing body, the expansion is part of its long-term strategy to accelerate the development of the women's game through increased participation, improved competition structures, and greater investment across Africa.
CAF also highlighted the remarkable progress made in women's football over the past five years, noting the significant increase in prize money.
“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 $150,000 to $1 million under CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe,” the statement added.
The 16 nations that qualified for the tournament are hosts Morocco, defending champions Nigeria, South Africa, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Matches will be played across five CAF-approved venues in Rabat and Casablanca, namely the Stade Moulay El Hassan, Stade Al Madina, and Stade Olympique in Rabat, as well as the Stade Larbi Zaouli and Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca.
Nigeria's Super Falcons will enter the tournament as defending champions after winning a record-extending 10th continental title at the previous edition. However, CAF believes the competition for this year's crown will be fiercer than ever.
“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 battle for continental glory, the tournament will also serve as Africa's qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.
CAF confirmed that the four quarter-final winners will automatically qualify for the global tournament, while the four losing quarter-finalists will remain in contention through the FIFA Women's World Cup play-off route.
With the expansion to 16 teams, increased financial investment, and the continued rise in the quality of women's football across the continent, CAF expects Morocco 2026 to be one of the most competitive editions of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in history.