Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026: 20-goal round takes tally to 50

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations recorded 20 goals during its second round of matches, taking the overall tournament total to 50 as the competition moves towards its third round.

The latest round, completed on Sunday, was less prolific than the opening one, but the tournament is now only 16 goals short of the record set at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, referred to in the source as the “CAN feminine Barbra 2024”.

There were seven wins and one draw across the second round. Four of the matches ended with the minimum winning margin, each producing a 1-0 scoreline.

The reduced goal return was reflected in the performances of several attacking teams. Zambia failed to score against Nigeria, while the Super Falcons managed only one goal despite their considerable attacking options.

The highest-scoring match came between Mali and Cape Verde, where Mali secured a 3-2 victory in a five-goal contest. The result made it the most productive fixture of the round.

South Africa, meanwhile, fought back to claim a point from their match and keep their hopes of progressing in the competition alive.

Across the tournament so far, 50 goals have been scored, giving an average of 3.125 goals per match. That figure leaves the 2026 edition within reach of the competition record, with 16 more goals needed to match the mark established by the 2024 tournament.

Barbra Banda remains the leading scorer, having found the net four times. Her tally is currently the highest recorded by an individual player in the competition.

Attention now turns to the third round, with the latest results having brought the second phase of the tournament to a close. While the number of goals dropped compared with the opening round, the overall scoring rate remains high enough for the 2026 edition to challenge the tournament record before the competition concludes.