The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) promises to be the biggest edition of the tournament to date. The official opening matches will take place on 26 July, while the final is scheduled for mid-August.
With record champions Nigeria looking to defend their crown, hosts Morocco aiming to capitalise on home support, and strong challengers like South Africa and Zambia vying for the trophy, there is a lot of expectation. For bettors, the tournament offers a wide range of markets, including outright winner, group winners, top goalscorer, match results and goals.
WAFCON 2026 Dates and Tournament Format
The tournament runs from 25 July to the final match on 16 August 2026, with the opening fixtures beginning on 26 July. Morocco will host matches across four stadiums in Rabat, Casablanca and Fez.
This year's tournament introduces a 16-team format, an expansion from the previous 12-team competition. The participating nations have been divided into four groups of four teams. Each team plays the other three sides in its group once, with the top two nations from every group progressing to the quarter-finals. From there, the tournament follows a straight knockout format through the semi-finals and final.
Key Dates
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Kick Off | July 25, 2026 |
| Opening matches | July 26, 2026 |
| Quarter-finals | August 8-9, 2026 |
| Semi-finals | August 12, 2026 |
| Final | August 16, 2026 |
WAFCON 2026 Groups
The draw has produced several intriguing matchups, with heavyweight nations set to battle for places in the knockout rounds. Here is how the groups are divided.
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya |
| Group B | South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Tanzania |
| Group C | Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi |
| Group D | Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde |
Group C immediately stands out as one of the toughest sections, featuring defending champions Nigeria alongside an ambitious Zambia side who have established themselves among Africa's elite in recent years. Group D also promises plenty of drama, with traditional rivals Ghana and Cameroon joined by Mali and tournament debutants Cape Verde.
Teams to Watch
Nigeria enter the tournament as the benchmark of African women's football. The Super Falcons have won 10 WAFCON titles, more than every other nation combined. Their experience and winning mentality make them one of the favourites in every outright betting market.
South Africa will be eager to build on their recent success after lifting their maiden WAFCON trophy in 2022. Banyana Banyana combine defensive organisation with attacking quality and have consistently performed well at major international tournaments.
As hosts, Morocco will benefit from passionate home support. The Atlas Lionesses reached the final on home soil in the previous tournament and will look to go one step further this time. Home advantage has often proved decisive in major continental competitions.
Zambia remain one of the tournament's most entertaining teams thanks to their explosive attacking talent. If they emerge from a difficult Group C, they have the quality to challenge any opponent in the knockout rounds.
Previous WAFCON Winners
History shows just how dominant Nigeria have been, although recent tournaments suggest the gap between Africa's leading nations is narrowing. Here are the past champions.
| Year | Champion | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Nigeria | Ghana |
| 2000 | Nigeria | South Africa |
| 2002 | Nigeria | Ghana |
| 2004 | Nigeria | Cameroon |
| 2006 | Nigeria | Ghana |
| 2008 | Equatorial Guinea | South Africa |
| 2010 | Nigeria | Equatorial Guinea |
| 2012 | Equatorial Guinea | South Africa |
| 2014 | Nigeria | Cameroon |
| 2016 | Nigeria | Cameroon |
| 2018 | Nigeria | South Africa |
| 2022 | South Africa | Morocco |
| 2024 | Nigeria | South Africa |
Nigeria's remarkable haul of 10 continental titles underlines why bookmakers continue to rate the Super Falcons so highly. However, South Africa's breakthrough triumph in 2022 and Nigeria's return to the summit in 2024 highlight the competitive nature of women's football across the continent.
Early Betting Outlook
The favourites are Nigeria, South Africa, and Morocco. Zambia could be the dark horse. Group winner markets also look attractive, particularly in the more balanced sections where qualification may be decided on the final matchday.
As with any international tournament, monitoring confirmed line-ups, injuries and team news before placing bets can provide valuable insight and help identify the best betting opportunities throughout WAFCON 2026.