Written By | Byamukama
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After successfully hosting the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which climaxed on Sunday, January 18, Morocco is set to host yet another continental showpiece within a month. The North African country will host the 14th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), scheduled to run from March 17 to April 3.
This edition will feature an expanded 16-team competition for the first time and will mark the third time Morocco is hosting the tournament, which brings together the continent’s top female football stars to compete for the coveted title.
The draw for the tournament was conducted in Rabat on January 15, with the 16 teams placed into four groups of four. Group A features hosts Morocco alongside arch-rivals Algeria, with Senegal and Kenya completing the group.
Crested Cranes were eliminated by Ethiopia
East Africa’s other representative, Tanzania, is in Group B alongside 2022 champions South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso.
Defending champions Nigeria will face Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi in Group C, while Group D consists of Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, and Cape Verde.
Nigeria won their 10th WAFCON title after defeating hosts Morocco 2–1 in last year’s final, cementing their status as the most successful nation in the tournament’s history. The Super Falcons have reached at least the semi-finals in every edition they have played. Equatorial Guinea (2008 and 2012) and South Africa (2022) are the only other African nations to have won the competition.
Uganda also featured in the qualifiers but was eliminated by Ethiopia after a 5–4 penalty shootout defeat at Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa. The two sides had drawn 2–2 on aggregate, although Uganda played the second leg with a player fewer after striker Fazila Ikwaput was sent off early in the second half.
Uganda Crested Cranes striker Zaina Namuleme scored one of the goals in Uganda's 2-0 first leg win
Of the 16 qualified teams, nine also featured at the 2024 edition. However, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tunisia, who qualified in 2024, missed out this time. Cabo Verde and Malawi will make their first appearances at the tournament.
Beyond the trophy, teams will also be competing for qualification slots for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be hosted in Brazil. The four semi-finalists will secure automatic qualification, while the losing quarter-finalists will enter a play-off to determine Africa’s two representatives in the inter-confederation play-offs.
WAFCON Draws
Group A: Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya
Group B: South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Tanzania
Group C: Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi
Group D: Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde
Torch Media Africa
