2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Last updated

2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification
Tournament details
Dates19 February 2025 (2025-02-19) – October 2025 (2025-10)
Teams37 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played13
Goals scored40 (3.08 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Angola.svg Ary Papel
Flag of Benin.svg Aude Gbedjissi
Flag of Mali.svg Agueissa Diarra
Flag of Mali.svg Aïssata Traoré
Flag of Togo (3-2).svg Mafille Woedikou
(2 goals each)
← 2024
2028→
All statistics correct as of 21 February 2025.

The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification is a women's football competition that will determine the 11 teams joining the automatically qualified host Morocco in the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final tournament. [1]

Contents

Format

The African qualifiers are set to commence in February 2025 and will feature two rounds of competition. In the first round, the 32 teams ranked 7th and below will play home-and-away two-legged ties. The 16 winners will advance to the second round, where they will be joined by the 6 teams that received a bye. The winners of the 11 second round home-and-away ties will qualify for the final tournament in Morocco.

Tiebreakers

If the aggregate score is tied after the second leg, the away goals rule will have been applied, and if still tied, a penalty shoot-out will be held (no extra time). [2] [ needs update ]

Schedule

RoundDates
First round19–26 February 2025
Second round20–28 October 2025

Entrants

All 53 CAF national teams were eligible to enter the competition; however, excluding Morocco, who qualified automatically as hosts of the final tournament, 38 teams registered for the qualifying tournament. The six highest-ranked teams based on FIFA rankings received a bye to the second round. In the first round, the teams are split into 16 higher-ranked and 16 less-ranked. [3]

Final tournament hosts
TeamRank
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 59
Teams entering qualifying rounds
Bye to second round
TeamRank
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 36
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 50
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 62
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 66
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 69
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 71
First round seeded teams
TeamRank
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 78
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 81
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 82
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 83
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 84
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 93
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 102
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo 112
Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 120
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 123
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 124
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 125
Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 127
Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 130
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 136
Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 141
First round unseeded teams
TeamRank
Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 142
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 143
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 145
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 148
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 150
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 151
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 152
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 153
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 156
Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 166
Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda 167
Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi 178
Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 182
Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan 192
Flag of Chad.svg  Chad NR
Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti NR
Did not enter
TeamRank
Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic 144
Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia 165
Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles 170
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 171
Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho 176
Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau 177
Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros 188
Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar 190
Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius 194
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya NR
Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea NR
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan NR
Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania NR
Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg  São Tomé and Príncipe NR


Pots

The 32 teams playing in the first round were allocated into six pots based on their FIFA Ranking (three pots of the highest-ranked teams and three of the 16 lower-ranked teams), as well as regional and geographical considerations, with neighboring zones paired together where possible according to the number of teams. The seedings, pots, and draw procedure were confirmed by CAF on 12 December 2024. [3] [4]

Pot 1 / Unseeded
(COSAFA & CECAFA)
TeamRank
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 151
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 153
Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 156
Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 182
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 145
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 148
Pot 2 / Seeded
(COSAFA, CECAFA & UNIFFAC)
TeamRank
Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 124
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 127
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 122
Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 82
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 109
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo 112
Pot 3 / Unseeded
(CECAFA)
TeamRank
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 149
Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda 168
Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi 178
Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan 193
Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti NR
Pot 4 / Seeded
(UNAF & WAFU B)
TeamRank
Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 78
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 84
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 92
Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 120
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 137
Pot 5 / Unseeded
(WAFU & UNIFFAC)
TeamRank
Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 142
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 152
Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 167
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 143
Flag of Chad.svg  Chad NR
Pot 6 / Seeded
(WAFU A)
TeamRank
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 81
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 83
Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 126
Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 129
Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 141

Draw

The draw for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers took place on 12 December 2024 at 12:00 GMT.

First round

Summary

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Angola  Flag of Angola.svgFlag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 2–1 26 Feb
Malawi  Flag of Malawi.svg w/o Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo — —
Botswana  Flag of Botswana.svgFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 0–2 26 Feb
Tanzania  Flag of Tanzania.svgFlag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 3–1 26 Feb
Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svgFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 2–0 26 Feb
Eswatini  Flag of Eswatini.svgFlag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 0–3 26 Feb
Burundi  Flag of Burundi.svgFlag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 23 Feb 26 Feb
Djibouti  Flag of Djibouti.svgFlag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 0–5 26 Feb
South Sudan  Flag of South Sudan.svgFlag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 0–5 25 Feb
Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda.svgFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 0–1 25 Feb
Kenya  Flag of Kenya.svgFlag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 0–0 26 Feb
Niger  Flag of Niger.svgFlag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 0–2 24 Feb
Benin  Flag of Benin.svgFlag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 2–1 24 Feb
Guinea  Flag of Guinea.svgFlag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 2–2 26 Feb
Gabon  Flag of Gabon.svgFlag of Mali.svg  Mali 0–6 25 Feb
Chad  Flag of Chad.svg w/o Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal — —

Matches

Angola  Flag of Angola.svg2–1Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe
  • Ary Papel Soccerball shade.svg1', 73'
 Report
Estádio Joaquim Dinis , Luanda
Zimbabwe  Flag of Zimbabwe.svgvFlag of Angola.svg  Angola
Report
Lucas Moripe Stadium , Pretoria (South Africa)
Malawi  Flag of Malawi.svgCancelledFlag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo
Report
Bingu National Stadium , Lilongwe
Congo  Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svgCancelledFlag of Malawi.svg  Malawi
Report
Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat , Brazzaville

Malawi won on walkover and advanced to the second round after Congo withdrew prior to the first leg due to a lack of competitions and preparation. [5]

Botswana  Flag of Botswana.svg0–2Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo
Report
Obed Itani Chilume Stadium , Francistown
DR Congo  Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svgvFlag of Botswana.svg  Botswana
Report
Stade des Martyrs , Kinshasa
Tanzania  Flag of Tanzania.svg3–1Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea
Report
Azam Complex Stadium , Dar es Salaam
Equatorial Guinea  Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svgvFlag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Report
Estadio de Malabo , Malabo
Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg2–0Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
Report
Hamz Stadium , Kampala
Ethiopia  Flag of Ethiopia.svgvFlag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
Report
Abebe Bikila Stadium , Addis Ababa
Eswatini  Flag of Eswatini.svg0–3Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia
Report
Somhlolo National Stadium , Lobamba
Referee: Suavis Iratunga (Burundi)
Namibia  Flag of Namibia.svgvFlag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini
Report
Dobsonville Stadium , Johannesburg (South Africa)
Burundi  Flag of Burundi.svgvFlag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Report
Stade Mamadou Konaté , Bamako (Mali)
Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svgvFlag of Burundi.svg  Burundi
Report
Stade du 26 Mars , Bamako (Mali)
Djibouti  Flag of Djibouti.svg0–5Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo
Report
Stade de Kégué , Lomé (Togo)
Referee: Gloria Sambumba (Zambia)
Togo  Flag of Togo (3-2).svgvFlag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti
Report
Stade de Kégué , Lomé
Referee: Isatou Touray (The Gambia)
South Sudan  Flag of South Sudan.svg0–5Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria
Report
Juba Stadium , Juba
Referee: Richy Nganda Madiamba (Gabon)
Algeria  Flag of Algeria.svgvFlag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan
Report
Mustapha Tchaker Stadium , Blida
Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda.svg0–1Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Report Essam Soccerball shade.svg64'
Kigali Pelé Stadium , Kigali
Referee: Sylvina Garnett (Liberia)
Egypt  Flag of Egypt.svgvFlag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda
Report
Suez Canal Stadium , Ismailia
Kenya  Flag of Kenya.svg0–0Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
Report
Ulinzi Sports Complex , Nairobi
Tunisia  Flag of Tunisia.svgvFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Report
Sousse Olympic Stadium , Sousse
Niger  Flag of Niger.svg0–2Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia
Report
Stade Général Seyni Kountché , Niamey
Referee: Aline Umutoni (Rwanda)
Gambia  Flag of The Gambia.svgvFlag of Niger.svg  Niger
Report
Stade Lat-Dior , Thiès (Senegal)
Benin  Flag of Benin.svg2–1Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone
Report
Stade de Kégué , Lomé (Togo)
Sierra Leone  Flag of Sierra Leone.svgvFlag of Benin.svg  Benin
Report
Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex , Monrovia (Liberia)
Guinea  Flag of Guinea.svg2–2Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde
Report
Stade Lat-Dior , Thiès (Senegal)
Referee: Ghada Mehat (Algeria)
Cape Verde  Flag of Cape Verde.svgvFlag of Guinea.svg  Guinea
Report
Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde , Praia
Gabon  Flag of Gabon.svg0–6Flag of Mali.svg  Mali
Report
Stade de Franceville , Franceville
Referee: Zakia El Grini (Morocco)
Mali  Flag of Mali.svgvFlag of Gabon.svg  Gabon
Report
Stade du 26 Mars , Bamako
Chad  Flag of Chad.svgCancelledFlag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
Report
Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny , Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svgCancelledFlag of Chad.svg  Chad
Report
Stade Lat-Dior , Thiès

Senegal won on walkover and advanced to the second round after Chad withdrew prior to the first leg due to delays in the disbursement process of the funds needed for match preparations and lack of funding. [6]

Second round

Summary

Team 1 Agg. Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Winner T1 (Angola v Zimbabwe)Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi Oct '25 Oct '25
Winner T3 (Botswana v DR Congo)Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Oct '25 Oct '25
Winner T4 (Tanzania v Eq. Guinea)Winner T5 (Uganda v Ethiopia) Oct '25 Oct '25
Winner T6 (Eswatini v Namibia)Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia Oct '25 Oct '25
Winner T7 (Burundi v Burkina Faso)Winner T8 (Djibouti v Togo) Oct '25 Oct '25
Winner T9 (South Sudan v Algeria)Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon Oct '25 Oct '25
Winner T10 (Rwanda v Egypt)Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana Oct '25 Oct '25
Winner T11 (Kenya v Tunisia)Winner T12 (Niger v Gambia) Oct '25 Oct '25
Winner T13 (Benin v Sierra Leone)Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Oct '25 Oct '25
Winner T14 (Guinea v Cape Verde)Winner T15 (Gabon v Mali) Oct '25 Oct '25
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svgFlag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast Oct '25 Oct '25

Matches

Angola/ZimbabwevFlag of Malawi.svg  Malawi
Malawi  Flag of Malawi.svgvAngola/Zimbabwe
Botswana/DR CongovFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svgvBotswana/DR Congo
Tanzania/Equatorial GuineavUganda/Ethiopia
Uganda/EthiopiavTanzania/Equatorial Guinea
Eswatini/NamibiavFlag of Zambia.svg  Zambia
Zambia  Flag of Zambia.svgvEswatini/Namibia
Burundi/Burkina FasovDjibouti/Togo
Djibouti/TogovBurundi/Burkina Faso
South Sudan/AlgeriavFlag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svgvSouth Sudan/Algeria
Rwanda/EgyptvFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svgvRwanda/Egypt
Kenya/TunisiavNiger/Gambia
Niger/GambiavKenya/Tunisia
Benin/Sierra LeonevFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svgvBenin/Sierra Leone
Guinea/Cape VerdevGabon/Mali
Gabon/MalivGuinea/Cape Verde
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svgvFlag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast  Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svgvFlag of Senegal.svg  Senegal

Goalscorers

There have been 40 goals scored in 13 matches, for an average of 3.08 goals per match (as of 21 February 2025). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

References

  1. ↑ "TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2026: 38 Nations Begin the Road to Glory in Morocco". CAFOnline.com . 12 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  2. ↑ "Regulations of the Women Africa Cup of Nations" (PDF). CAFOnline.com . 29 February 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 "CAF to conduct TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers Draw on Thursday". CAFOnline.com . 10 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  4. ↑ "PROCEDURES OF THE DRAW OF THE QUALIFERS OF THE WOMEN AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS 2026" (PDF). CAFOnline.com . 10 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  5. ↑ Kegengo, Dennis (4 February 2025). "WAFCON Qualifiers: Malawi through to next round after Congo confirm exit". Pan-Africa Football.
  6. ↑ "Football: The FTFA announces the withdrawal of the Sao women's team from the qualifiers for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations". toumaiwebmedias.com (in French). 16 February 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
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