Final Groups Set for the Largest WAFCON in History
Following the final draw of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, the 16 qualified nations now know their path to continental glory. This 2026 edition, hosted once again by Morocco from March 17 to April 3, is the first tournament to feature an expanded field of 16 teams. The four semi-finalists will earn automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Group A: The Host’s Gauntlet
The opening group is headlined by the host nation, Morocco, who qualified automatically and are desperate to secure their first title after falling in the last two finals. They are joined by Algeria, who booked their place in dramatic fashion by overcoming traditional powerhouses Cameroon with a 3-1 aggregate victory in the final qualifying round. Senegal returns to the tournament after receiving a first-round walkover and then displaying defensive masterclass to edge past Guinea. Completing the group is Kenya, the Harambee Starlets, who staged one of the qualifiers’ biggest shocks by eliminating a highly-rated Tunisia side 1-0 on aggregate, marking their long-awaited return to the continental stage for the first time since 2016.
Group B: Clash of the Rising Stars
Defending champions South Africa enter Group B as heavy favorites. Banyana Banyana bypassed the first round and asserted their dominance with a 4-1 aggregate win over the DR Congo to secure their title defense. They will face an Ivory Coast team that benefited from the tournament’s expansion; despite being eliminated in the final qualifying round, they were reinstated as one of the four highest-ranked FIFA nations to fill the new 16-team quota. Joining them is Burkina Faso, who returns for a second consecutive appearance after a convincing 5-1 aggregate thrashing of Burundi. Tanzania rounds out the group, having earned their ticket through a hard-fought 4-2 aggregate win over Equatorial Guinea, proving that East African football is on a sharp upward trajectory.
Group C: The Continental Giants
Group C is widely considered the Group of Death, featuring the most successful team in history, Nigeria. The Super Falcons swept aside Benin 3-1 on aggregate to maintain their perfect record of appearing in every WAFCON edition. They face a formidable Zambia side that has become a global force; the Copper Queens dismantled Namibia 7-2 on aggregate to reach their fourth consecutive tournament. Egypt also joins this group via the expansion rule, having been brought back into the fold based on their strong FIFA ranking after a narrow qualifying exit. The group is completed by history-makers Malawi. The Scorchers reached their first-ever WAFCON after a historic 2-0 aggregate victory over Angola, sparking nationwide celebrations in Lilongwe.
Group D: West African Powerhouses
The final group features Ghana, a team that has rediscovered its clinical edge under new management, cruising through qualifiers by defeating Namibia and Egypt. They are joined by Cameroon, who, like Egypt and Ivory Coast, were handed a lifeline through the expansion to 16 teams after their initial shock exit to Algeria. Mali enters the group as one of the most prolific teams in the qualifying phase, having recorded a staggering 10-1 aggregate victory over Gabon. Finally, Cape Verde makes its tournament debut alongside Malawi. The Blue Sharks completed a fairytale journey by reversing a first-leg deficit against Guinea to win 6-3 on aggregate, a remarkable feat for a women’s program that only played its first international match a few years ago.
Complete groupings
WAFCON 2026 FINAL DRAWS
Group A – Rabat (Moulay Al Hassan)
🇲🇦 Morocco
🇩🇿 Algeria
🇸🇳 Senegal
🇰🇪 Kenya
Group B – Rabat (Al Madina)
🇿🇦 South Africa
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
🇹🇿 Tanzania
Group C – Casablanca (Larbi Zaouli)
🇳🇬 Nigeria
🇿🇲 Zambia
🇪🇬 Egypt
🇲🇼 Malawi
Group D – Fes
🇬🇭 Ghana
🇨🇲 Cameroon
🇲🇱 Mali
🇨🇻 Cape Verde
