The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 commences on Sunday in Morocco, featuring 16 national teams competing for continental supremacy and qualification spots for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The tournament begins four months later than its originally scheduled date.

This edition of the WAFCON holds significant weight, not only as a showcase for African women's football but also as a crucial pathway to the global stage. The participating nations will battle for two direct berths in the 2027 Women's World Cup, adding an extra layer of intensity to the competition.

Defending champions Nigeria, who secured the title a year prior, are among the strong contenders. Other pre-tournament favorites include Ghana, Zambia, and host nation Morocco. The tournament is set to feature a wealth of international talent, including Zambia's Racheal Kundananji and Barbra Banda, Nigeria's Rasheedat Ajibade, and Malawi's Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the tournament's schedule, with the final slated for August 16 in Rabat. The 22-day event will see its group stage run from July 26 to August 6, followed by quarterfinals on August 8 and 9, semifinals on August 12, and a playoff for third place on August 13.

The WAFCON was originally slated to begin in March but was postponed by CAF due to "certain unforeseen circumstances." While specific reasons were not detailed by the confederation, reports indicated that host nation Morocco requested a change in dates. This postponement came after a period of controversy surrounding the men's AFCON final earlier in the year.

The tournament's schedule has seen some compression due to logistical challenges that also affected the 2024 edition, pushing it to July 2025 and thus shortening the interval between successive WAFCON tournaments. Kickoff times for matches will generally be at 17:00 GMT and 20:00 GMT, with the final scheduled for 19:00 GMT.

Morocco, as host, will play Kenya on the opening day, while Algeria faces Senegal in another highly anticipated match. The choice of Morocco as host for this delayed tournament places a spotlight on the nation's capacity to stage major international sporting events.

With a strong field of competitors and the added incentive of World Cup qualification, the 2026 WAFCON promises to be a closely watched event, highlighting the growing talent and competitiveness within African women's football.