In preparation for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Egypt are to play two friendly matches in June.
The TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 will take place from 25 July to 16 August.
In the build-up to WAFCON, the Egyptian women’s team started months ago during which they held two friendly games with Algeria in Cairo before going to Saudi Arabia to play another two friendlies against their women’s team. Egypt lost twice to Algeria 0-3 in the first game and 2-3 in the second. However, the Cleopatras beat Saudi Arabia twice, 2-1 and 2-0.
With less than two months to go for the WAFCON 26, the Cleopatras entered their final training camp lasting from 29 May until 9 June. They are currently training at the pitches of the home of the Egyptian Football Association in preparation for two friendly games against Tunisia on 5 and 8 June.
The Egyptian team has been training under the supervision of head coach Mohamed Kamal.
In October 2024, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) granted the hosting rights for the 2026 WAFCON to Morocco. The tournament initially was scheduled from 17 March to 3 April 2026. However, after discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF decided to reschedule the dates to 25 July - 16 August to ensure what it said was “the success of this important women’s competition, in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances”.
Egypt participated only once in the WAFCON, in 2016, when they exited the tournament from the first round.
WAFCON, formerly the African Women’s Championship, is a biennial international women’s football tournament organised by CAF since 1998 as the qualification of African nations in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Originally starting as a home-and-away qualification competition, it became rechristened as a biennial tournament in 1998 and took on its current name as of the 2016 edition.
Nigeria are the most successful nation in the history of the tournament, winning 10 titles and making it to at least the semi-final in every tournament they have played in.
Equatorial Guinea won as hosts of the 2008 and 2012 editions. South Africa won the 2022 edition to become the third African nation to ever win the tournament. Morocco, Ghana and Cameroon are the only nations outside of the previous winners to have also made it to the tournament’s final. Nigeria is the current champion, having won the 2024 final.
For media personnel interested in attending the WAFCON in Morocco, CAF this week released the media accreditation application window. The window will close on Wednesday 17 June.
“Media interested in covering the competition can apply via the CAF Media Channel. Media representatives are responsible for completing their application with their correct details, as stated on their ID or passport. Failure to provide the correct details will result in the application/approval being denied,” CAF wrote, adding that no late applications will be accepted, and no exceptional measures will be put in place for latecomers.
All applications are subject to confirmation. Confirmation will not be on a first-come, first-served basis. Successful applicants will be notified and provided with further information in due course.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 4 June, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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