All you need know about Wafcon 2026

Di delayed 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) don finally ready for kick-off, with Morocco staging a third successive finals.

Originally scheduled to hold from 17 March to 3 April, di Confederation of African Football (Caf) postpone di tournament just 12 days bifor e suppose start.

Dis year Wafcon, wey dey come only 12 months afta di delayed 2024 edition, go begin on Sunday, 26 July wen Algeria go face Senegal for di opening game for Rabat (17:00 GMT).

Caf cite "unforeseen circumstances" for di delay, but di late change don give more time for di newly-expanded 16-team tournament, wey go feature 34 matches and end for di final on Sunday, 16 August.

Dis year Wafcon dey all di more important becos e dey double as a qualifier for di 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup, wit all four semi-finalists securing a ticket for Brazil.

Di four losing quarter-finalists go play off for two spots for one intercontinental qualifier.

So wetin be di key fixtures? Wetin be di format? Wia dem go play di matches and wen dem go kick off?

BBC Sport Africa go provide you with all di information ahead of di 14th edition of Africa biggest women's football event.

Who be di groups?

Di 16 teams dey split into four groups of four.

Hosts Morocco get a North African derby against rivals Algeria for Group A as well as games against Senegal and Kenya, wey dey return 10 years afta making dia only previous appearance.

Holders Nigeria, wey dey bid for a record-extending 11th title after beating Morocco toe last year final, dey placed in Group C alongside Zambia, di highest-ranked side in pot two for di draw, Egypt and debutants Malawi.

South Africa, winners for 2022, go take on Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania for Group B.

For Group D, Ghana dey paired with Cameroon and Mali - two sides wey advance to di finals on di strength of dia world ranking - and di oda first-timers wey dey take part, Cape Verde.

Di top two teams for each group go go into di quarter-finals.

Group A: Morocco (hosts), Algeria, Senegal, Kenya.

Group B: South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Tanzania.

Group C: Nigeria (holders), Zambia, Egypt, Malawi.

Group D: Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde.

Wafcon 2026 schedule and kick-off times

Di kick-off times go be at 17:00 GMT and 20:00 GMT throughout di tournament - with di exception of di final.

Di quarter-finals go take place on 8 and 9 August, with both semi-finals following on 12 August.

Di final go be on Sunday, 16 August at 19:00 GMT.

Wafcon 2026 venues: Wia dem go play am?

Morocco use six stadiums spread across five cities to stage di tournament last year, but dis time around dem dey use five grounds for two cities.

Games go dey played for di capital Rabat and Casablanca, with Berkane, Mohammedia and Oujda discarded as venues.

Fes bin originally dey to host Group D, but di matches dem scheduled for di Complexe Sportif de Fes dey shifted to Casablanca instead.

Di three stadiums wey dem dey use for Rabat also stage matches for di 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), with di North African nation carrying out several redevelopment projects as dem prepare to co-host di 2030 Fifa World Cup.

Di Atlas Lionesses go play dia games for di Moulay Hassan Stadium, wey go also stage a quarter-final and a semi-final.

Di venue for di final dey yet to be confamed. E go either be di Moulay Hassan Stadium or di much larger Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium for Rabat, wey bin host di Afcon final, with di latter likely to dey chosen if Morocco progress to di final.

Di five confam venues na:

Who be di favourites?

Of di 16 nations wey dey take part, only Nigeria and South Africa don previously lift di Wafcon trophy.

Di Super Falcons return to North Africa as both holders and di continent top-ranked side, with a rich pedigree under homegrown coach Justin Madugu.

Chiamaka Nnadozie don dey named Africa best goalkeeper for di past three years while captain Rasheedat Ajibade dey named most valuable player for di finals last July.

Morocco don invest heavily in footballing infrastructure in recent years but dia women's side dey yet to emulate di success of di kontri men to become di top team for Africa.

Di Atlas Lionesses don be runners-up for di past two editions and get a Women's World Cup winner for di dugout in di shape of Jorge Vilda, wey bin guide Spain to di title for 2023.

South Africa, ranked second on di continent, still get di experienced Desiree Ellis for di dugout while Ghana, under Kim Bjorkegren, return fresh from dia third-placed finish last July.

Zambia round out di likely contenders, although di Copper Queens bin dey demolished 5-0 by Nigeria for last year quarter-finals. Dem go look to skipper Barbra Banda, di 2024 BBC Women's Footballer of di Year, for inspiration.

W go be a big ask for any of di oda sides to mount a serious challenge.

Women Africa Cup of Nations 2026 group fixtures

All kick-off times GMT.

Sunday, 26 July

Group A: Algeria v Senegal, Olympic Stadium, Rabat, (17:00 GMT)

Group A: Morocco v Kenya, Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat, (20:00 GMT)

Monday, 27 July

Group B: South Africa v Tanzania, Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca, (17:00 GMT)

Group B: Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca, (20:00 GMT)

Tuesday, 28 July

Group C: Zambia v Egypt, Olympic Stadium, (17:00 GMT)

Group C: Nigeria v Malawi, Al Medina Stadium, Rabat, (20:00 GMT)

Wednesday, 29 July

Group D: Ghana v Cape Verde, Moulay Rachid Stadium, (17:00 GMT)

Group D: Cameroon vs Mali, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Thursday, 30 July

Group A: Senegal v Kenya, Olympic Stadium, (17:00 GMT)

Group A: Morocco v Algeria, Moulay Hassan Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Friday, 31 July

Group B: South Africa v Ivory Coast, Moulay Rachid Stadium, (17:00 GMT)

Group B: Burkina Faso v Tanzania, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Saturday, 1 August

Group C: Egypt v Malawi, Moulay Hassan Stadium, (17:00 GMT)

Group C: Nigeria v Zambia, Al Medina Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Sunday, 2 August

Group D: Ghana v Cameroon, Moulay Rachid Stadium, (17:00 GMT)

Group D: Mali v Cape Verde, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Monday, 3 August

Group A: Senegal v Morocco, Moulay Hassan Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Group A: Kenya v Algeria, Olympic Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Tuesday, 4 August

Group B: Burkina Faso v South Africa, Moulay Rachid Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Group B: Tanzania v Ivory Coast, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Wednesday, 5 August

Group C: Egypt v Nigeria, Olympic Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Group C: Malawi v Zambia, Al Medina Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Thursday, 6 August

Group D: Mali v Ghana, Moulay Rachid Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Group D: Cape Verde v Cameroon, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Wafcon 2026 quarter-finals

Saturday, 8 August

QF 2: Winner Group B v Second Place Group A, Moulay Rachid Stadium, (17:00 GMT)

QF 1: Winner Group A v Second Place Group B, Moulay Hassan Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Sunday, 9 August

QF 4: Winner Group D v Second Place Group C, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, (17:00 GMT)

QF 3: Winner Group C v Second Place Group D, Al Medina Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Wafcon 2026 semi-finals

Wednesday, 12 August

SF2: Winner QF2 v Winner QF3, Olympic Stadium, (17:00 GMT)

SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF4, Moulay Hassan Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

African 2027 Women's World Cup play-off matches

Thursday, 13 August

Loser QF2 v Loser QF3, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, (17:00 GMT)

Loser QF1 v Loser QF4, Moulay Rachid Stadium, (20:00 GMT)

Third place play-off

Saturday, 15 August

Loser SF1 v Loser SF2, Olympic Stadium, (17:00 GMT)

Wafcon 2026 final

Sunday, 16 August

Winner SF1 v Winner SF2, Moulay Hassan Stadium or Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, (19:00 GMT)