The journey to the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2026, is set start after the draw for the qualifiers was held at the headquarters of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) in Cairo on Thursday.
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The draw unveiled the match-ups that will determine the teams advancing to this prestigious continental tournament to be held in Morocco.
A total of 38 African nations will compete for one of the 12 available spots in the final phase, alongside host nation Morocco, which qualifies automatically.
This marks the third consecutive time that Morocco will host Africa’s premier women’s football competition, reinforcing the country’s pivotal role in developing and promoting the sport across the continent.
The reigning champions, South Africa, are among the six nations exempted from the first round due to their high ranking among Africa’s top teams in the FIFA rankings. Joining them with exemptions are Zambia, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Cameroon.
These dominant teams are expected to make a strong impact as they enter the competition in the second round.
The qualifiers will take place in two rounds of home-and-away matches, promising intense and decisive encounters.
The first-round fixtures are scheduled from February 17 to 26, 2025, while the second round will occur between October 20 and 28, 2025.
This qualification process will highlight emerging forces in African women’s football while showcasing the growing competitiveness of established nations. The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is poised to be a celebration of the talent and passion that drive the sport on the continent.
Qualifier Schedule:
First Round: February 17–26, 2025
Second Round: October 20–28, 2025
First Round Fixtures:
M1 & M2: Angola vs Zimbabwe
M3 & M4: Malawi vs Congo
M5 & M6: Botswana vs DR Congo
M7 & M8: Tanzania vs Equatorial Guinea
M9 & M10: Uganda vs Ethiopia
M11 & M12: Eswatini vs Namibia
M13 & M14: Burundi vs Burkina Faso
M15 & M16: Djibouti vs Togo
M17 & M18: South Sudan vs Algeria
M19 & M20: Rwanda vs Egypt
M21 & M22: Kenya vs Tunisia
M23 & M24: Niger vs Gambia
M25 & M26: Benin vs Sierra Leone
M27 & M28: Guinea vs Cape Verde
M29 & M30: Gabon vs Mali
M31 & M32: Chad vs Senegal
Second Round Fixtures:
M33 & M34: Angola/Zimbabwe vs Malawi/Congo
M35 & M36: Botswana/DR Congo vs South Africa
M37 & M38: Tanzania/Equatorial Guinea vs Uganda/Ethiopia
M39 & M40: Eswatini/Namibia vs Zambia
M41 & M42: Burundi/Burkina Faso vs Djibouti/Togo
M43 & M44: South Sudan/Algeria vs Cameroon
M45 & M46: Rwanda/Egypt vs Ghana
M47 & M48: Kenya/Tunisia vs Niger/Gambia
M49 & M50: Guinea/Cape Verde vs Gabon/Mali
M51 & M52: Chad/Senegal vs Côte d’Ivoire
