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 played28
Goals scored84 (3 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Algeria.svg Ghoutia Karchouni
Flag of Angola.svg Ary Papel
Flag of Benin.svg Aude Gbedjissi
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Adèle Kabré
Flag of Mali.svg Agueissa Diarra
Flag of Togo (3-2).svg Odette Gnintegma
(3 goals each)
← 2024
2028→
All statistics correct as of 26 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 commenced in February 2025 and will feature two rounds of competition. In the first round, the 32 teams ranked 7th and below played home-and-away two-legged ties. The 16 winners advanced 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

Fifty-two CAF national women's teams were eligible to enter qualification as Morocco had already qualified as hosts, though only 38 teams registered. The six teams ranked highest in the FIFA Women's World Ranking were given a bye to the second round, and the next 16 highest-ranked teams were seeded in the first round and played the second leg at home. [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 a combination of their FIFA Ranking 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.svg3–3 (5–4 p)Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 2–1 1–2
Malawi  Flag of Malawi.svg w/o Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo — —
Botswana  Flag of Botswana.svg0–2Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 0–2 0–0
Tanzania  Flag of Tanzania.svg4–2Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 3–1 1–1
Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg2–2 (4–5 p)Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 2–0 0–2
Eswatini  Flag of Eswatini.svg0–4Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 0–3 0–1
Burundi  Flag of Burundi.svg1–5Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 0–1 1–4
Djibouti  Flag of Djibouti.svg0–10Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 0–5 0–5
South Sudan  Flag of South Sudan.svg0–8Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 0–5 0–3
Rwanda  Flag of Rwanda.svg2–3Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 0–1 2–2
Kenya  Flag of Kenya.svg1–0Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 0–0 1–0
Niger  Flag of Niger.svg1–4Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 0–2 1–2
Benin  Flag of Benin.svg5–2Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 2–1 3–1
Guinea  Flag of Guinea.svg3–6Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 2–2 1–4
Gabon  Flag of Gabon.svg1–10Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 0–6 1–4
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.svg2–1Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
Report
Penalties
4–5
Lucas Moripe Stadium , Pretoria (South Africa)
Referee: Aline Guimbang A Etong (Cameroon)

3–3 on aggregate. Angola won 5–4 on penalties.

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.svg0–0Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana
Report
Stade des Martyrs , Kinshasa
Referee: Shamirah Nabadda (Uganda)

DR Congo won 2–0 on aggregate.

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.svg1–1Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Report
Estadio de Malabo , Malabo
Referee: Mercy Mayimbo (Zimbabwe)

Tanzania won 4–2 on aggregate.

Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg2–0Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
Report
Hamz Stadium , Kampala

2–2 on aggregate. Ethiopia won 5–4 on penalties.

Eswatini  Flag of Eswatini.svg0–3Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia
Report
Somhlolo National Stadium , Lobamba
Referee: Suavis Iratunga (Burundi)
Namibia  Flag of Namibia.svg1–0Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini
Report
Dobsonville Stadium , Johannesburg (South Africa)

Namibia won 4–0 on aggregate.

Burundi  Flag of Burundi.svg0–1Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Report
Stade Mamadou Konaté , Bamako (Mali)
Referee: Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)
Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svg4–1Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi
Report
Stade du 26 Mars , Bamako (Mali)

Burkina Faso won 5–1 on aggregate.

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).svg5–0Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti
Report
Stade de Kégué , Lomé
Referee: Isatou Touray (The Gambia)

Togo won 10–0 on aggregate.

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.svg3–0Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan
Report
Mustapha Tchaker Stadium , Blida
Referee: Nonjabulo Nonhle Ndlela (South Africa)

Algeria won 8–0 on aggregate.

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.svg2–2Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda
Report
Suez Canal Stadium , Ismailia
Referee: Marietou Fall (Senegal)

Egypt won 3–2 on aggregate.

Kenya  Flag of Kenya.svg0–0Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia
Report
Ulinzi Sports Complex , Nairobi
Tunisia  Flag of Tunisia.svg0–1Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Report Engesha Soccerball shade.svg4'
Sousse Olympic Stadium , Sousse
Referee: Vincentia Amedome (Togo)

Kenya won 1–0 on aggregate.

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.svg2–1Flag of Niger.svg  Niger
Report
Stade Lat-Dior , Thiès (Senegal)
Referee: Dorsaf Ganouati (Tunisia)

Gambia won 4–1 on aggregate.

Benin  Flag of Benin.svg2–1Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone
Report
Stade de Kégué , Lomé (Togo)
Sierra Leone  Flag of Sierra Leone.svg1–3Flag of Benin.svg  Benin
K. Z. Brima Soccerball shade.svg90+6' Report
Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex , Monrovia (Liberia)

Benin won 5–2 on aggregate.

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.svg4–1Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea
Report
Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde , Praia

Cape Verde won 6–3 on aggregate.

Gabon  Flag of Gabon.svg0–6Flag of Mali.svg  Mali
Report
Stade de Franceville , Franceville
Referee: Zakia El Grini (Morocco)
Mali  Flag of Mali.svg4–1Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon
Report
Stade du 26 Mars , Bamako

Mali won 10–1 on aggregate.

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
Angola  Flag of Angola.svgFlag of Malawi.svg  Malawi Oct '25 Oct '25
DR Congo  Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svgFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Oct '25 Oct '25
Tanzania  Flag of Tanzania.svgFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia Oct '25 Oct '25
Namibia  Flag of Namibia.svgFlag of Zambia.svg  Zambia Oct '25 Oct '25
Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svgFlag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo Oct '25 Oct '25
Algeria  Flag of Algeria.svgFlag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon Oct '25 Oct '25
Egypt  Flag of Egypt.svgFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana Oct '25 Oct '25
Kenya  Flag of Kenya.svgFlag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia Oct '25 Oct '25
Benin  Flag of Benin.svgFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria Oct '25 Oct '25
Cape Verde  Flag of Cape Verde.svgFlag of Mali.svg  Mali Oct '25 Oct '25
Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svgFlag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast Oct '25 Oct '25

Matches

Angola  Flag of Angola.svgvFlag of Malawi.svg  Malawi
Malawi  Flag of Malawi.svgvFlag of Angola.svg  Angola
DR Congo  Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svgvFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svgvFlag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo
Tanzania  Flag of Tanzania.svgvFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
Ethiopia  Flag of Ethiopia.svgvFlag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Namibia  Flag of Namibia.svgvFlag of Zambia.svg  Zambia
Zambia  Flag of Zambia.svgvFlag of Namibia.svg  Namibia
Burkina Faso  Flag of Burkina Faso.svgvFlag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo
Togo  Flag of Togo (3-2).svgvFlag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso
Algeria  Flag of Algeria.svgvFlag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Cameroon  Flag of Cameroon.svgvFlag of Algeria.svg  Algeria
Egypt  Flag of Egypt.svgvFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
Ghana  Flag of Ghana.svgvFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Kenya  Flag of Kenya.svgvFlag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia
Gambia  Flag of The Gambia.svgvFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Benin  Flag of Benin.svgvFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Nigeria  Flag of Nigeria.svgvFlag of Benin.svg  Benin
Cape Verde  Flag of Cape Verde.svgvFlag of Mali.svg  Mali
Mali  Flag of Mali.svgvFlag of Cape Verde.svg  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 84 goals scored in 28 matches, for an average of 3 goals per match (as of 26 February 2025). Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.

3 goals

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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