Morocco will host the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) for the third consecutive time in 2026, with the qualifying process set to determine the 11 teams that will join the host nation. This decision was announced on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in the tournament’s history. With 38 countries participating in the preliminary rounds, four fewer than the previous edition, teams will face two rounds of home and away matches to secure their spot in the finals. The six highest-ranked teams—Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast—will receive byes to the second round, emphasizing the competition’s focus on the best-performing nations on the continent.
The first qualifying round for Wafcon 2026 is scheduled for February 2025, with the second round taking place in October 2025. This timeline allows teams to prepare and adjust their strategies accordingly. The delayed 2024 Wafcon finals, initially scheduled to be held in Morocco next year, have been postponed to July 5-26, 2025, due to the timing of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This adjustment highlights the logistical challenges of coordinating major sports events across different international schedules. The final dates for the 2026 tournament are still to be determined by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), ensuring adequate preparation for all participating teams.
Botswana and DR Congo, who qualified for the 2024 finals, will have a tough road ahead if they hope to secure a place in the 2026 edition. The two nations will face each other in the first round of preliminaries, with the winner advancing to a challenging second round against South Africa, the reigning continental champions. The full qualifying draw for the tournament was also revealed, detailing the matchups from the first and second rounds, which will be played in February 2025 and October 2025, respectively. As Morocco prepares to host the tournament for the third time, the focus is now on ensuring a smooth and competitive path for all teams as they aim to qualify for what promises to be a highly anticipated event in African women’s football.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0