The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a major milestone for women’s football on the continent — the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will expand from 12 to 16 teams beginning with the 2026 edition.
Originally, next year’s tournament in Morocco was scheduled to feature 12 teams, with qualifiers already in the second and final round.
Read Also: Wazbak International Crowned WAFA League Super 8 Champions After Dramatic Penalty Shootout Victory Over Ijamido Queens
However, the new format will likely introduce a third preliminary round, where 11 nations will battle for the remaining four slots to complete the expanded lineup.
Further details on the qualification format and competition structure are expected following CAF’s Executive Committee meeting in Kinshasa.
Since its inception in 1998, WAFCON featured eight teams up until the 2018 finals in Ghana.
The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before the tournament returned in 2022 with an expanded 12-team format.
The upcoming expansion to 16 teams reflects CAF’s growing investment in women’s football.
At the 2022 WAFCON in Morocco, CAF increased the overall prize pool by 45% to $3.45 million (£2.6m), with champions Nigeria receiving $1 million (£750,000) for their record-extending 10th title.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe praised the progress of the women’s game across Africa, reaffirming CAF’s commitment to its development.
“I am pleased with the progress we’ve made in women’s African football,” Motsepe said.
“Part of my starting point is ensuring both men and women are paid well and can make a career out of football. I can assure you women’s football will continue to improve because that is an area we are focusing on a lot.”
The 16-team expansion is expected to enhance competitiveness, provide more opportunities for emerging nations, and further elevate the profile of women’s football across Africa.
 will expand from 12 to 16 teams beginning with the 2026 edition){kind=link}