Defending champions Nigeria’s Super Falcons will on Thursday discover their group opponents for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducts the official draw ceremony in Rabat, Morocco.
The draw is scheduled to take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, a venue that has become a regular host of major CAF events, underscoring Morocco’s growing influence in African football.
CAF has expanded the biennial women’s championship to 16 teams, marking a significant step in the continued growth and development of women’s football across the continent.
The expanded format is expected to deliver a more competitive and diverse tournament, with a broader representation of African nations.
Nigeria, the most successful nation in the history of the competition and current title holders, headline a strong field that includes hosts Morocco, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Cape Verde.
Also competing for continental glory are Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
According to CAF, the 16 qualified teams will be seeded into four pots for the draw, based on the FIFA Women’s World Ranking as of 11 December 2025.
This seeding system is designed to ensure balance across the groups and set the stage for compelling matchups from the opening round.
Beyond the group draw, the ceremony will also serve as a celebration of excellence in women’s football, with CAF set to announce the winners of the CAF Women’s Coach of the Year award and other outstanding women’s football honours.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals will run from 17 March to 3 April, 2026, with Nigeria aiming to defend their crown and further extend their dominance on the continental stage, while rivals such as South Africa, Zambia, Ghana and hosts Morocco will be eager to dethrone the Super Falcons and claim African supremacy.