The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) officially gets underway in Morocco, with 16 nations set to compete for the continent's most prestigious women's football title.
The tournament is expected to be highly competitive, featuring some of Africa's strongest women's national teams. Defending champions, hosts Morocco, and traditional powerhouses including Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Ghana, and Cameroon are among the favorites to challenge for the trophy.
The group stage begins on Sunday, July 26, with Algeria taking on Senegal at 8:00 p.m. local time, before hosts Morocco face Kenya at 11:00 p.m.
Tanzania's national women's team, Twiga Stars, will begin their campaign on Monday, July 27, with a challenging opening match against defending champions South Africa in what is expected to be one of the standout fixtures of the opening round.
Also scheduled for Monday is the clash between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, while the following days will feature several high-profile encounters, including Zambia versus Egypt, Nigeria against Malawi, Ghana taking on Cape Verde, and Cameroon facing Mali.
The group stage will also produce other highly anticipated matches, including Senegal versus Kenya and Morocco against Algeria, as every team battles for a place in the knockout rounds.
WAFCON 2026 continues to serve as a major platform for the development of women's football across Africa, giving players the opportunity to showcase their talent while representing their countries on one of the continent's biggest sporting stages.
For Tanzania, expectations are high as Twiga Stars aim to make a strong impression and write a new chapter in the nation's history at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
