The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations begins this Sunday in Morocco, offering a record-breaking two-million-dollar reward alongside automatic spots for the World Cup. This year’s tournament features an expanded field of 16 teams, with the ten-time champions, Nigeria’s Super Falcons, entering as the team to beat.
Led by coach Justine Madugu, Nigeria aims to secure a semi-final berth to guarantee World Cup qualification before turning their focus toward defending their title. The squad includes a diverse group of players from leagues in Mexico, Israel, China, and local clubs, such as goalkeeper Fatima Oloko. Although defender Ashleigh Plumptre is out due to injury, captain Rasheedat Ajibade and standout goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie remain key figures for the team.
Nigeria faces a challenging Group C, which includes Zambia—featuring star forwards Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji—as well as Egypt and tournament newcomers Malawi. Malawi’s squad is bolstered by the presence of prolific strikers Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga.
Other tournament groups feature significant talent, with South Africa leading Group B alongside Tanzania, the Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso. Morocco, serving as hosts for the third consecutive time, heads Group A with Algeria, Senegal, and Kenya. The match between Morocco and Algeria is expected to be particularly high-stakes due to the ongoing political tensions between the two nations regarding the Western Sahara territory. Meanwhile, Group D includes Ghana, Cameroon, and first-time participants Cape Verde.
The tournament will span 34 matches across five stadiums in Rabat and Casablanca, ultimately determining which teams will represent Africa on the world stage.
