Wafcon 2026 begins in Morocco with 34 matches from 26 July to 16 August
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) starts in Morocco on Sunday, staging 34 matches across a three-week window from 26 July to 16 August. Cape Verde and Egypt arrive with momentum from the men’s World Cup while Nigeria aim to secure an 11th title.
The tournament occupies a unique spot in the football calendar, coming directly after the men’s World Cup and before the European domestic season gets under way. Organisers have scheduled the 34 fixtures to fit neatly between those two major markers, offering a concentrated burst of international women’s football. Wafcon 2026 is being presented as one of the more underrated competitions on the sporting schedule, drawing attention now that the global showpiece has concluded.
Teams such as Cape Verde and Egypt are carrying a feelgood factor from recent men's national team performances into the women’s tournament, hoping that enthusiasm translates into results on the pitch. At the same time, Nigeria enter the competition with a strong historical record and the stated objective of claiming a record 11th championship. The timing of the event, immediately following high-profile international action, could give several nations a platform to showcase progress in their women’s programmes.
With the event hosted in Morocco, national federations and supporters will focus on a compact series of matches over the coming weeks. The 34-match schedule leaves little room for error, increasing the stakes for each group-stage encounter and knockout fixture. That concentrated format also provides an opportunity for emerging players to make an impact on a continental stage.
Organisers and broadcasters will be seeking to capitalise on residual interest from the men’s World Cup, which featured Spain and Argentina at the pinnacle of global attention. The close succession of tournaments means audiences may shift their focus from the global finals to regional competition, offering Wafcon a ready-made moment to attract viewers. For players, the tournament serves as both a competitive objective and a showcase ahead of the European club season.
For followers of African football, Wafcon represents a timely return to international action and a chance to observe shifting dynamics among the continent’s women's teams. With Morocco hosting, Cape Verde and Egypt buoyed by recent national optimism, and Nigeria pursuing a record-extending 11th title, the competition promises clear storylines without need for hyperbole. The three-week tournament will determine continental supremacy as it fills the calendar gap between the World Cup and the start of domestic leagues.