Defending champions Nigeria have been placed in Group C of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they will face Zambia, Egypt and Malawi in the group stage of the continental tournament.
The Super Falcons, who are record holders with 10 WAFCON titles, will contest all their Group C matches at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.
Nigeria’s clash with Zambia is expected to draw particular attention, as it mirrors their quarter-final encounter at the 2024 edition of the competition. In that meeting, the Super Falcons delivered a dominant performance, overpowering the Copper Queens with a 5-0 victory to advance further in the tournament.
Hosts Morocco, who finished as runners-up in the last two editions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, were drawn into Group A. They will compete against Algeria, Kenya and Senegal, with all matches in that group scheduled to take place at the Moulay Al Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
Former champions South Africa were placed in Group B alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Tanzania. The Banyana Banyana are widely tipped to progress from the group stage and renew their push to reclaim the continental crown they last won in 2022. All Group B fixtures will be hosted at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.
Group D features a strong lineup, with traditional powerhouses Ghana and Cameroon drawn together with Mali and Cape Verde. Matches in that group will be played at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, adding another competitive dimension to the tournament.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to run from 17 March to 3 April 2026. Although it carries the 2026 title, the tournament was initially planned for last year before being rescheduled. Beyond the continental title, the stakes are particularly high, as the competition will also serve as Africa’s qualification tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
At the end of the WAFCON, the top four teams will earn the right to represent Africa at the global showpiece, which is set to be hosted by Brazil. With experienced teams and emerging contenders spread across the groups, the tournament is expected to be fiercely contested from the opening matches.
What you should know
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is Africa’s premier women’s football tournament and also serves as a pathway to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons are the most successful team in the competition’s history, with 10 titles. The 2026 edition, hosted in Morocco, doubles as Africa’s qualification tournament for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with only four teams earning tickets.
This makes every group match crucial, as both continental glory and global qualification are at stake.
