The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) has announced a substantial expansion of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), increasing the tournament from 12 to 16 teams starting in 2026.
Announced on August 27, 2025, this decision marks a pivotal step in CAF’s commitment to advancing women’s football across the continent, building on the previous expansion from 8 to 12 teams in 2022 and other new developments in women football such as U-17 and U-20 WAFCONs starting in 2026 and 2027 respectively.
These new developments aim to enhance inclusivity, provide more nations with competitive opportunities, and elevate the visibility of women’s football in Africa, aligning with CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe’s 2021-2025 Action Plan to foster growth in the sport.
The expansion is expected to intensify competition with 52 CAF member nations eligible to compete for the 15 qualification spots alongside the host nation of the 2026 tournament, Morocco.
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The expanded 16-team format is anticipated to further strengthen the tournament’s role as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, where the top four teams will secure direct qualification, and two additional teams will advance to inter-confederation playoffs.
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