The race to qualify for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations reaches its climax on Tuesday, with the final return legs of the second and last qualifying round set to decide which nations advance to the tournament in Morocco.
The day marks a crucial stage in the journey to Africa’s premier women’s football event, as teams battle for the remaining nine qualification slots.
Each fixture carries immense importance, with several regional powerhouses and rising contenders vying for a place in the continental showpiece.
The spotlight will fall on high-stakes clashes across the continent. Cameroon face Algeria in what promises to be a thrilling encounter, while Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal meet again after a goalless first leg that left their tie finely balanced.
Both sides know that victory in Abidjan will secure a coveted ticket to Morocco.
Elsewhere, Nigeria and South Africa—two of Africa’s most successful women’s football nations—will aim to confirm their dominance.
Each side heads into their return legs determined to seal qualification and maintain momentum ahead of the finals.
Nigeria meet Benin, while South Africa host the Democratic Republic of Congo in what is expected to be an intense battle.
In East Africa, Ethiopia take on Tanzania in an early kickoff that could provide one of the day’s biggest surprises.
Malawi will also be in action against Angola, while Ghana welcome Egypt for a fixture that promises fast-paced attacking football.
West Africa will witness several decisive encounters. Togo host Burkina Faso with both sides chasing history, while Mali meet Cape Verde in a contest that will test their tactical depth and endurance.
The Gambia face Kenya in another tightly poised matchup, as both nations fight to make a statement on the continental stage.
The results from these fixtures will complete the lineup for the AFCON Women’s 2026 tournament, confirming the nine nations that will join the host country, Morocco.
The stakes could not be higher as every goal, tackle, and save will determine who earns the right to compete among Africa’s best.
The Confederation of African Football has outlined the schedule for the decisive fixtures as follows:
Match Schedule (Tuesday, 28 October):
12:00 – Ethiopia vs Tanzania
13:00 – Malawi vs Angola
13:00 – Nigeria vs Benin
15:30 – Ghana vs Egypt
15:30 – Cameroon vs Algeria
16:00 – Togo vs Burkina Faso
16:00 – Gambia vs Kenya
17:00 – Mali vs Cape Verde
17:00 – South Africa vs DR Congo
19:00 – Côte d’Ivoire vs Senegal
Each of these matches will determine who advances to the prestigious competition in Morocco, setting the stage for another thrilling edition of African women’s football.
As the final whistle blows across stadiums on Tuesday evening, the dream of competing on the continent’s biggest stage will become reality for only nine teams.
