Harambee Starlets set for expanded 2026 WAFCON in Morocco
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 06.11.25. | 09:20
The 2026 WAFCON will also serve as the African qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil
Harambee Starlets are set to grace an expanded 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after CAF confirmed the competition will feature 16 teams instead of 12.
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Kenya sealed qualification after defeating Gambia in the final round of qualifiers, winning 3-1 in Nairobi and 1-0 away to complete a 4-1 aggregate triumph.
The victory ended a nine-year absence from the continental showpiece, with the Starlets last featuring at the 2016 edition in Cameroon.
After several failed qualification attempts, their return in 2026 represents a major comeback and a testament to the steady growth of women’s football in Kenya.
CAF confirmed the expansion in a statement saying,
“The Executive Committee of the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has approved the expansion of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) from 12 to 16 teams, starting with the next edition to be staged in Morocco from 17 March to 3 April 2026.”
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Since the qualification process had already concluded, CAF introduced a selection mechanism to identify the four additional teams.
Based on the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings, Cameroon (66th), Côte d’Ivoire (71st), Mali (79th) and Egypt (95th) have been added to complete the lineup.
The 16 teams that will feature in the 2026 WAFCON are: Morocco (hosts), Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Egypt.
CAF said the decision aligns with its strategic vision to elevate women’s football across the continent by promoting inclusivity, competitiveness and wider exposure for emerging teams.
The 2026 WAFCON will also serve as the African qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, giving Harambee Starlets a chance to reclaim their place among Africa’s elite and push for a historic World Cup debut.
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