Morocco will host the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the third consecutive time in 2026, with the qualifying process announced on Thursday.
A total of 38 countries have entered the preliminary rounds, four fewer than the 2024 edition.
Teams will compete in two rounds of home and away ties to determine the 11 teams that will join the host nation in WAFCON 2026.
The six highest-ranked countries—Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, Cameroon, and Ivory Coast—have been granted a bye to the second round.
The first qualifying round will take place in February 2025, while the second round is scheduled for October next year.
The Confederation of African Football has yet to announce the exact dates for the tournament.
Botswana and DR Congo, both qualifiers for the 2024 finals, face challenging draws for 2026.
They will meet in the first round of preliminaries, with the winner set to play against reigning champions South Africa.
The 2024 WAFCON finals, delayed due to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, will be held in Morocco from July 5-26, 2024, with the 12-team tournament’s schedule finalized in June.
Morocco also hosted the 2022 finals.
Wafcon 2026 qualifying draw
First round
- Angola v Zimbabwe
- Malawi v Congo-Brazzaville
- Botswana v DR Congo
- Tanzania v Equatorial Guinea
- Uganda v Ethiopia
- Eswatini v Namibia
- Burundi v Burkina Faso
- Djibouti v Togo
- South Sudan v Algeria
- Rwanda v Egypt
- Kenya v Tunisia
- Niger v The Gambia
- Benin v Sierra Leone
- Guinea v Cape Verde
- Gabon v Mali
- Chad v Senegal
Home and away ties to be held from 17-26 February 2025
Second round
- Angola or Zimbabwe v Malawi or Congo-Brazzaville
- Botswana or DR Congo v South Africa
- Tanzania or Equatorial Guinea v Uganda or Ethiopia
- Eswatini or Namibia v Zambia
- Burundi or Burkina Faso v Djibouti or Togo
- South Sudan or Algeria v Cameroon
- Rwanda or Egypt v Ghana
- Kenya or Tunisia v Niger or The Gambia
- Benin or Sierra Leone v Nigeria
- Guinea or Cape Verde v Gabon or Mali
- Chad or Senegal v Ivory Coast
Home and away ties to be held from 20-28 October 2025
