Algeria and Mali have booked their places in the second round of qualifiers for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), joining Cameroon in the next phase.
The two nations delivered commanding performances on Tuesday, with Algeria sealing their progression in style and Mali cruising past Gabon.
Algeria Completes Dominant Display
Following a resounding 5-0 victory in the first leg, Algeria continued their impressive form against South Sudan with a comfortable 3-0 win in the return fixture.
The Desert Warriors’ commanding aggregate victory ensures their place in the next round, where they will face a formidable challenge in Cameroon, who were exempt from the opening round.
Despite ongoing debate surrounding the squad selection criteria under head coach Farid Benstiti, Algeria’s qualification remained undisputed as they controlled proceedings over both legs.
Mali Overpowers Gabon
Mali reaffirmed their strength in the competition, delivering another emphatic performance to eliminate Gabon.
Having already won the first leg 6-0, the Aiglonnes maintained their dominance with a 4-1 victory in the return match, completing a 10-1 aggregate triumph.
They now await their next opponent as the road to the tournament in Morocco continues.
Key Matchups Confirmed for Second Round
The qualifiers are progressing swiftly, with several intriguing fixtures set for the second round, scheduled for October 2025. The confirmed matchups include:
- Algeria vs Cameroon
- Egypt vs Ghana
- Benin vs Nigeria
- Guinea or Cape Verde vs Mali
- Senegal vs Ivory Coast
With these high-profile clashes ahead, the race for a spot in the final tournament is set to intensify.
Upcoming Fixtures – Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Several teams are still in contention, with crucial matches set to take place on Wednesday:
- 13:00 GMT: Ethiopia vs Uganda
- 14:00 GMT: Namibia vs Eswatini, Tunisia vs Kenya, Zimbabwe vs Angola
- 17:00 GMT: Burkina Faso vs Burundi, DR Congo vs Botswana, Togo vs Djibouti
- 18:00 GMT: Cape Verde vs Guinea, Senegal vs Chad
- 19:00 GMT: Equatorial Guinea vs Tanzania
As the qualification phase continues, more teams will look to secure their passage to the next round in the coming hours.
Nigeria’s Historic Dominance
The 2026 Women’s AFCON will follow a familiar format, featuring 12 teams split into three groups of four.
The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the quarter-finals, leading into the knockout rounds.
Nigeria remains the most successful nation in the tournament’s history, with 11 titles to their name.
South Africa (one title, five-time runners-up) and Equatorial Guinea (two titles) are the only other teams to have won the competition.
Cameroon, despite reaching four finals, are yet to lift the trophy, while Ghana (three-time runners-up) and Morocco are also chasing their first triumph. Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Zambia, Mali, and Angola have all made it to the semi-finals at least once.
Before the 2026 edition, the 2025 tournament will also take place next summer in Morocco, setting the stage for back-to-back Women’s AFCON tournaments.
