Women’s AFCON 2026: Recalled quartet out to make impact at expanded finals

Four teams handed a late reprieve for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations are preparing to prove they belong at the tournament, after being reinstated following an expansion of the competition to 16 sides.

Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Cameroon and Mali were all originally eliminated in qualifying, only to be brought back into the finals on 4 November 2025 – a week after the end of the qualifying campaign – when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the enlarged format.

The decision, based on their positions in the FIFA women’s rankings, ensured the four highest-placed non‐qualifiers filled the new slots at a tournament which began on Sunday in Morocco.

Cote d’Ivoire are the first of the quartet to feature, taking to the pitch on Monday, with Egypt in action on Tuesday. Cameroon and Mali then face each other on Wednesday in a meeting of two sides who owe their presence to the late change of plan.

Controversial timing, contrasting routes

The timing of CAF’s move has prompted debate within African women’s football, with the governing body confirming the expansion only after the qualifiers had been completed.

On the pitch, the beneficiaries followed very different paths to their second chance.

Cote d’Ivoire missed out by the narrowest of margins, losing to Senegal on penalties after two goalless legs in their qualifying tie. Egypt, by contrast, were well beaten by Ghana, going out 7-0 on aggregate.

Yet both now find themselves back on the continent’s biggest stage, alongside two established powers in the women’s game.

Long waits end for Cote d’Ivoire and Egypt

For Cote d’Ivoire, the call‐back ends a 12‐year absence from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Their last appearance came in 2015, when they finished third – the nation’s best performance in the competition.

Egypt are returning after a decade away. Their previous participation was in 2016, and their reinstatement offers a fresh opportunity to rebuild at continental level despite the heavy qualifying defeat that had seemingly ended their hopes.

Both federations and squads are acutely aware of the circumstances that brought them back into the tournament, but the focus is on seizing the chance rather than dwelling on what happened in qualifying.

Cameroon avoid second straight absence

Cameroon’s inclusion is particularly significant given their status as one of Africa’s strongest women’s football nations.

The Indomitable Lionesses had been on course to miss a second consecutive Women’s AFCON, a stark contrast to their record of regular appearances at both continental and global level.

Their captain, Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene, will set a new benchmark at the tournament. At 37, she is poised to become the first player in history to feature at eight Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, and has publicly pledged that the team will be worthy of their recall.

Extra places, extra motivation

While critics have questioned the sporting fairness of revisiting the list of qualifiers after the event, the expansion has undeniably created new storylines and revived ambitions across the continent.

For the four recalled sides, there is also a shared determination not to be seen merely as beneficiaries of administrative change.

As Ivory Coast international Bernadette Amani underlined, the players have not forgotten the manner of their qualification and intend to demonstrate on the pitch that they merit their place in Morocco.