Egypt women’s national team midfielder Nadine Ghazi believes the future remains bright for the Pharaohs despite their disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Egypt exited the tournament at the group stage after failing to collect a point in Group C, but Ghazi believes the experience of competing against some of Africa’s leading teams will prove valuable to a squad still developing at international level.
The Al Ahly midfielder, who returned to the WAFCON stage after Egypt’s previous appearance in 2016, acknowledged that the team’s results were disappointing but insisted the tournament provided an important learning experience for the players.
“We are disappointed with how the results went, but the future is still bright. For many of the players, this was their first experience of a tournament of this level,” Ghazi said.
The Egyptian international stressed that facing some of the continent’s strongest sides gave the team an opportunity to understand the demands of elite women’s football.
“We had the chance to play against some of the best players in Africa. That experience is very important for us, and we can learn from it and continue improving,” she added.
Ghazi had entered the tournament as one of Egypt’s players to watch after overcoming a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered three years earlier. Her return to the continental stage was therefore another significant milestone in her career.
The midfielder had also spoken before the competition about the importance of Egypt’s women’s team building on the inspiration provided by the country’s men’s national side and continuing to strengthen the legacy of women’s football in Egypt.
Although Egypt could not progress from Group C, Ghazi believes the experience can provide a foundation for the next generation of Egyptian internationals.
With the 2026 WAFCON offering Egypt valuable exposure against established African opponents, Ghazi is confident that continued development and greater experience will help the Pharaohs return to future continental competitions better prepared and more competitive.
