WAFCON 2026 Draw: Banyana Banyana Opponents, Groups, Fixtures and Key Dates Revealed

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 (WAFCON) officially kicks off on January 15 with the CAF WAFCON 2026 draw in Morocco, marking a historic moment for African women’s football. For the first time ever, 16 teams will compete in the tournament, an expansion from 12 in the previous edition.

The finals will take place in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026, as Africa’s top nations battle for continental glory and a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Why WAFCON 2026 Matters: World Cup Qualification on the Line

The stakes are higher than ever. WAFCON 2026 doubles as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The top four teams, the semi-finalists, will secure automatic qualification for the global showpiece.

This adds extra pressure for teams like South Africa (Banyana Banyana), Nigeria, Zambia, and Morocco, who have all featured on the world stage in recent years.

Nigeria the Benchmark, South Africa Eye Redemption

Nigeria, the reigning champions and record holders with 10 WAFCON titles, remain the team to beat. Meanwhile, South Africa will be looking for redemption after finishing fourth in the last Morocco-hosted tournament, losing the bronze medal match to Ghana on penalties.

Hosts Morocco will headline Group A, with Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa expected to join them as top seeds in the draw.

COSAFA’s Growing Influence

The inclusion of Malawi and Zambia alongside South Africa highlights COSAFA’s growing strength in women’s football. Zambia’s rise and Malawi’s progress ensure the region will be closely watched when the draw is made.

Other qualified nations include Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, and Tanzania, completing a competitive 16-team lineup.