The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is underway in Morocco, marking the tournament’s historic expansion to 16 teams and a record $2 million prize purse, with global broadcast deals ensuring unprecedented visibility for African women’s football.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is officially underway in Morocco, running from July 26 to August 16, 2026. This landmark edition marks the first time the tournament has expanded to a 16-team format, with matches being hosted across five venues in Rabat and Casablanca.
Algeria kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Senegal in the opening match at the Rabat Olympic Stadium. Captain Marine Dafeur broke Algeria’s 381-minute WAFCON scoring drought with a first-half penalty before a late insurance goal secured all three points in Group A.
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CAF has secured record-breaking global and regional media partnerships for the tournament. SuperSport is broadcasting all 34 live matches in English across Sub-Saharan Africa, while CANAL+ Afrique provides comprehensive live coverage for French-speaking territories . Over 18 public broadcasters are airing matches locally for free, including Ghana’s MaxTV/GBC, Nigeria’s AfroSport/NTA, and Kenya’s KBC .
For international audiences, Channel 4 is making history by broadcasting WAFCON free-to-air in the United Kingdom for the first time. DAZN and Ziggo Sport cover Europe and Germany, while beIN Sports holds rights across the Middle East, North America, and Canada. CAF TV on YouTube streams matches live for free in territories without exclusive broadcast deals.
Tournament Format & Stakes
The expanded 16-team format features four groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals. This tournament serves as the primary route to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil—all four semi-finalists automatically qualify, while the four losing quarter-finalists will play a playoff round for Africa’s two entries into the inter-continental playoff. CAF has announced a record-breaking $2 million prize pool for the eventual tournament winners.
Group Stage Overview
Cape Verde and Malawi are celebrating historic debut appearances at the finals this year. Group A features hosts Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, and Kenya. Group B includes defending champions South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania. Group C comprises ten-time record champions Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi. Group D features Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, and Cape Verde.
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on July 26, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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