CAF Women’s AFCON
The TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 (WAFCON 2026) is set to be one of the most exciting tournaments in African women’s football history. The competition, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), will feature the best national teams from across the continent as they compete for continental glory.
With the qualifiers already underway, teams are battling for a coveted spot in the final tournament, where they will not only compete for the championship but also for potential qualification to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
This article provides an in-depth look at the qualifiers, key dates, participating teams, tournament format, past winners, and country records.
Qualifying Phases and Latest Results
The qualifiers for the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will take place in two rounds:
First Round of Qualifiers
The first round is taking place from February 19 to 26, 2025, with national teams competing for progression to the next phase. Below are the latest results:
February 19, 2025
- South Sudan 0-5 Algeria
- Niger 0-2 Gambia
February 20, 2025
- Botswana 0-2 DR Congo
- Tanzania 3-1 Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon 0-6 Mali
- Benin 2-1 Sierra Leone
- Angola 2-1 Zimbabwe
February 21, 2025
- Kenya 0-0 Tunisia
- Eswatini 0-3 Namibia
- Uganda 2-0 Ethiopia
- Rwanda 0-1 Egypt
- Guinea 2-2 Cape Verde
- Djibouti 0-5 Togo
February 23-26, 2025
More matches are set to be played with teams aiming for a spot in the next qualification phase.
Second Round of Qualifiers
The second round will take place from October 20 to 28, 2025. This stage will see the winners from the first round face some of the higher-ranked teams that had a bye in the earlier round.
Some of the key matchups include:
- Angola/Zimbabwe vs. Malawi
- Botswana/DR Congo vs. South Africa
- Tanzania/Equatorial Guinea vs. Uganda/Ethiopia
- Eswatini/Namibia vs. Zambia
- Algeria vs. Cameroon
- Egypt vs. Ghana
- Kenya/Tunisia vs. Gambia
- Benin vs. Nigeria
- Senegal vs. Ivory Coast
The final tournament slots will be determined after this round.
TotalEnergies WAFCON 2026 Tournament Details
Host Country & Stadiums
CAF is yet to announce the host country and stadiums for the tournament, but the selection process is in progress. The decision is expected to be made by mid-2025.
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Tournament Dates
The official dates for the final tournament will be confirmed after the qualifiers are completed. Traditionally, the tournament takes place mid-year, with the previous edition (2022) held in July.
Format of the Tournament
The TotalEnergies WAFCON 2026 will follow a structured competition format:
Group Stage
- 12 teams will be divided into three groups of four teams.
- The top two teams from each group will qualify directly for the quarter-finals.
- The two best third-placed teams will also advance to the knockout stage.
Knockout Phase
From the quarter-finals onwards, the competition will follow a single-elimination format, leading up to the final, where the winner will be crowned African champions.
At a refugee camp in Minawao, in Cameroon’s Far North region, the girls took up football, forming a team with whatever equipment came to hand.
At the weekend, thanks to an initiative of the UN refugee agency UNHCR, the girls got the treat of their lives: they were taken to a match between Nigeria and Sudan. (Photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)
Past Champions & Tournament History
List of Past Winners
Since its inception in 1991, the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has been dominated by Nigeria, which has won the tournament a record 10 times.
| Year | Host | Winner | Finalist | Third Place | Fourth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Home & Away | Nigeria | Cameroon | Guinea/Zambia | ❌ |
| 1995 | Home & Away | Nigeria | South Africa | Angola/Ghana | ❌ |
| 1998 | Nigeria | Nigeria | Ghana | DR Congo | Cameroon |
| 2000 | South Africa | Nigeria | South Africa | Ghana | Zimbabwe |
| 2002 | Nigeria | Nigeria | Ghana | Cameroon | South Africa |
| 2006 | Nigeria | Nigeria | Ghana | South Africa | Cameroon |
| 2008 | Eq. Guinea | Equatorial Guinea | South Africa | Nigeria | Cameroon |
| 2010 | South Africa | Nigeria | Eq. Guinea | South Africa | Cameroon |
| 2012 | Eq. Guinea | Eq. Guinea | South Africa | Cameroon | Nigeria |
| 2014 | Namibia | Nigeria | Cameroon | Cote d’Ivoire | South Africa |
| 2016 | Cameroon | Nigeria | Cameroon | Ghana | South Africa |
| 2018 | Ghana | Nigeria | South Africa | Cameroon | Mali |
| 2022 | Morocco | South Africa | Morocco | Zambia | Nigeria |
Note: The 2020 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Country Performance Records
Most Successful Nations in WAFCON History
| Rank | Country | Titles Won | Runners-Up | Third Place | Fourth Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | Eq. Guinea | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | South Africa | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Cameroon | 0 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | Ghana | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 6 | Morocco | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Conclusion
The TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 is set to be an exciting tournament that will showcase Africa’s top female football talents. With qualifiers well underway, teams are battling for a spot in what promises to be a historic competition.
Can Nigeria reclaim their dominance? Will South Africa defend their title? Or will a new champion emerge? Football fans across Africa eagerly await the action!
Stay tuned for more updates, match reports, and in-depth analysis as the road to WAFCON 2026 continues.
