The draw for the group stages of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations was made all the way back in January, giving the teams plenty of time to prepare for their opponents.
The expanded 16-team field for the July 26 to August 16 tournament means there are four pools each containing four sides, with the top two in each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
The tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists automatically booking their places. The four sides that lose in the last 8 will lock horns for two more places in the intercontinental play-offs.
Here is a quick guide to the groups (fixture times are local: GMT+1).
Group A
Morocco headline Group A as the host nation and are joined by bitter rivals Algeria, Senegal and Kenya.
For fans of Moroccan football there will be plenty to chew over in this group, not least the clash with Algeria. The two nations do not see eye to eye, and this is a grudge match.
But the game against Senegal offers a semblance of revenge for the men’s Africa Cup of Nations final on Moroccan soil in January, which is still the cause of much debate and bitterness.
Kenya are inexperienced at this level, having only appeared once before in 2016, when they lost all three games and conceded 10 goals in the process.
Expect Morocco and Algeria to be the two teams to progress.
26 July, 18h00:Algeria v Senegal – Olympic Stadium, Rabat
26 July, 21h00:Morocco v Kenya – Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
30 July, 18h00:Senegal v Kenya – Olympic Stadium, Rabat
30 July, 21h00:Morocco v Algeria – Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
3 August, 21h00:Senegal v Morocco – Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
3 August, 21h00:Kenya v Algeria – Olympic Stadium, Rabat
Group B
The 2022 champions South Africa have, on the face of it, a kind draw with Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania in their pool.
They would expect to beat each of them, but none are minnows in the true sense and all will present tricky challenges in games that will have to be managed carefully.
Ivory Coast are making their third WAFCON appearance, but their first since 2014, when they finished with the bronze medal, dashing South Africa’s hopes of qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Current Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis was part of that technical team under Vera Pauw and this will be something of a revenge mission.
Burkina Faso debuted in 2022 and managed a single point from their three games, exiting in the group stages.
Tanzania have appeared twice before, in 2010 and the 2024 edition, and managed a draw and two defeats on each occasion.
Expect South Africa and Tanzania to advance.
27 July, 18h00:South Africa v Tanzania – Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
27 July, 21h00:Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso – Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
31 July, 18h00:South Africa v Ivory Coast – Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
31 July, 21h00:Burkina Faso v Tanzania – Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
4 August, 21h00:Burkina Faso v South Africa – Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
4 August, 21h00:Tanzania v Ivory Coast – Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
Group C
Defending champions Nigeria are in the ‘Group of Death’ alongside Zambia, Egypt and Malawi in what is an incredibly tough pool.
Nigeria will, of course, still fancy their chances of advancing with their star quality, but who joins them is the big question.
Zambia’s experience, having played at the last two Olympic Games and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, suggests it will be them, especially with star forward Barbra Banda in their side. Zambia lost 5-0 to Nigeria in the quarter-finals of the previous edition.
Egypt might not have the explosiveness of some of the other teams in the pool, but they have a high work-rate, are organised, and will be difficult to break down. They also have a very good club system that produces quality players.
Malawi may be on debut but have shown great improvement in recent years and were COSAFA champions as recently as 2023. They have the world-class Chawinga sisters, who are among the top forwards on the continent and play at the highest level abroad.
Nigeria and Zambia should advance.
28 July, 18h00:Zambia v Egypt – Olympic Stadium, Rabat
28 July, 21h00:Nigeria v Malawi – Al Madina Stadium, Rabat
1 August, 18h00:Egypt v Malawi – Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
1 August, 21h00:Nigeria v Zambia – Al Madina Stadium, Rabat
5 August, 21h00:Egypt v Nigeria – Olympic Stadium, Rabat
5 August, 21h00:Malawi v Zambia – Al Madina Stadium, Rabat
Group D
This pool is another that is tough to call, with Ghana, who finished third in the previous edition, up against Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde.
You would think Ghana are overwhelming favourites to win the group, and they should do so, but none of their opponents will be easy.
Ghana have never lifted the trophy despite finishing in the top three on eight occasions and losing three finals. They managed third place last time out despite winning only one of their six games outright, with four draws and a group-stage defeat to South Africa.
Cameroon are three-time runners-up but surprisingly did not qualify for the 2024 edition, the first time they had missed out. But they are back at the finals.
Mali reached the quarter-finals in the 2024 edition, with their best finish being fourth in 2018.
Cape Verde are on debut and will be something of an unknown quantity for the other teams in the pool.
29 July, 18h00:Ghana v Cape Verde – Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
29 July, 21h00:Cameroon v Mali – Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
2 August, 18h00:Ghana v Cameroon – Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
2 August, 21h00:Mali v Cape Verde – Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
6 August, 21h00:Mali v Ghana – Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
6 August, 21h00:Cape Verde v Cameroon – Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
MentionsFootballAfrica Cup of Nations WomenAlgeriaSouth AfricaKenyaMoroccoSenegalTanzaniaIvory CoastNigeriaZambiaBurkina FasoGhanaMalawiCape VerdeMaliCameroonAfrican footballGlobalSouth AfricaKenyaGhanaNigeria
