Teams have been preparing across the continent with friendly games being held in preparation for the WAFCON which is scheduled to be held from 17 March to 3 April in Morocco.
The 16 nations which have qualified for Africa’s premier women’s football tournament are now using the first international window of the year to sharpen tactics, assess squads and build cohesion ahead of the finals.
Twelve nations have booked their places at the tournament after two qualifying rounds. Hosts Morocco, runners-up at the last two editions, will again look to turn keen home support into silverware.
Technical managers and head coaches are finalising provisional lists, experimenting with combinations and placing renewed emphasis on match fitness. A series of high-profile friendly fixtures has been arranged to provide competitive rehearsal before the tournament kicks off.
The friendly schedule started with Morocco vs Burkina Faso at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on 27 February. 28 February saw three friendlies: Cameroon v Nigeria at Ngoa-Ekelle Military Stadium in Yaoundé and Cote d’Ivoire v Benin at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan. Algeria beat Egypt 3-0 and 3-2 in the 6 October Stadium in Cairo.
2 March saw Benin vs Kenya, Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan while 3 March will see Cameroon vs Nigeria, Ngoa-Ekelle Military Stadium, Yaoundé; Algeria vs Egypt, 6 October Stadium, Cairo, and Morocco vs Burkina Faso, Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat. Cote d’Ivoire was scheduled to take on Kenya, Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium, Ebimpé, on 4 March.
As reported by cafonline before the game, “the double header between Cameroon and Nigeria stands out as one of the most anticipated contests of the window, offering both sides a stern examination of their credentials.”
“Meanwhile, hosts Morocco will test themselves twice against Burkina Faso in Rabat, seeking rhythm and consistency before welcoming the continent this month. Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria and Egypt also have opportunities to measure progress, while Kenya and Benin aim to build momentum against regional opponents.”
Elsewhere, Tanzania and Ghana have opted for overseas preparation, travelling to Dubai for the Pink Ladies Cup in the United Arab Emirates between 28 February and 6 March.
The annual invitational tournament also features Russia and Hong Kong, providing diverse opposition and a competitive environment for tactical refinement. For the two African sides, the highlight will be their meeting on the final day, a fixture likely to offer insight into readiness levels before the continental showpiece. By staging their preparations in a neutral international setting, both Tanzania and Ghana hope to expose their squads to varied playing styles and conditions while strengthening team chemistry.
Roared on by their public, the Atlas Lionesses dream of finally lifting the trophy that slipped away against South Africa (1-2) in 2022. The competition will be fierce. Ten-time champions Nigeria remain the team to beat. The Super Falcons are targeting an 11th title to underline their long-standing dominance of the continent. Behind the heavyweights, Ghana, third at the last tournament, arrive with clear ambition. Zambia and South Africa, now regulars at the highest level, round out a strong group of favourites in which fine margins will matter.
But the women’s AFCON is not only about established powers. The 2026 edition will also showcase new faces. Cape Verde and Malawi are set for their first-ever finals, a historic moment for two nations where the women’s game is growing rapidly. Kenya and Burkina Faso, returning after spells away, will be eager to prove they belong in this select field.
Around them, several rising teams continue their upward curve. Senegal, Algeria and Tanzania qualified with authority, extending trajectories seen in recent seasons.
Parity and quality are increasingly evident, turning the tournament into a showcase for an African women’s football landscape in full evolution. In addition to the 12 teams that qualified after the two knockout rounds, four teams were reinstated based on their FIFA ranking: Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Egypt.
The women’s AFCON is already looking toward the World Cup. Beyond the race for the continental crown, the 2026 WAFCON carries high stakes: qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil. The four semi-finalists will claim direct tickets to the global finals, with two additional nations heading to intercontinental play-offs.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 5 March, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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