CAF expands Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to 16 teams ahead of 2026 Morocco tournament

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the expansion of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) from 12 to 16 teams, beginning with the 2026 edition to be hosted in Morocco.

The decision, confirmed in a letter sent to all member associations on 3 November 2025, marks a major shift in the competition’s format and a step toward aligning African women’s football with global standards.

CAF’s Executive Committee approved the reform during its latest session, stating that the move aims to encourage wider participation and accelerate the growth of the women’s game across the continent.

The decision comes after the qualification phase for the 2026 tournament had already concluded, forcing CAF to find a way to accommodate the additional four teams.

To fill the new slots, the Confederation has opted to reinstate the four highest-ranked nations among those previously eliminated in the qualifiers, based on the current FIFA rankings.

As a result, Cameroon (ranked 66th), Ivory Coast (71st), Mali (79th), and Egypt (95th) have all been handed a lifeline and will join the 12 teams that had already secured qualification.

The tournament will now feature four groups of four nations, replacing the previous format of three groups of four.

However, CAF has yet to confirm whether the best third-placed teams will progress to the knockout stage or if only the top two from each group will advance directly to the quarter-finals.

This expansion will not only increase the number of matches but also intensify the level of competition across the continent.

With the 2026 WAFCON serving as a qualifying event for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, the stakes will be higher than ever for teams aiming to secure their spot on the global stage.

The decision has been met with mixed reactions across the football community.

While many see it as a positive step toward inclusivity and development, others have criticised the timing, arguing that expanding the field after qualification has concluded undermines the fairness of the competition.

Still, for nations like Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Egypt, the late reprieve represents a second chance to compete at Africa’s highest level.

For CAF, it is a calculated move designed to boost visibility, competition, and opportunity for women’s football across the continent — even if it comes with logistical and organisational challenges ahead of Morocco 2026.