CAF Expands Women’s Africa Cup Of Nations To 16 Teams

African women’s football is set for its biggest stage yet. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco will expand from 12 to 16 teams, marking a bold step forward for the continental game.

A New Era For African Women’s Football

Originally scheduled to feature 12 teams, the 2025 tournament — taking place from 17 March to 3 April in Morocco — will now welcome four additional nations: Cameroon, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Mali. These teams, previously eliminated in the final qualifying round, earned their spots as the best-ranked sides among the losing teams based on FIFA rankings.

The expansion reflects CAF’s growing commitment to developing women’s football across Africa and giving more nations the opportunity to compete on the biggest stage. It’s a decision that many fans and players have been calling for, especially following the success and rising popularity of recent editions.

South Africa And Nigeria Lead The Charge

Defending champions Nigeria’s Super Falcons and South Africa’s Banyana Banyana headline the list of qualified teams. They’ll be joined by Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia, alongside hosts Morocco, who have become a powerhouse in both men’s and women’s football development.

This will be the third time Morocco hosts WAFCON, but the stakes are higher than ever. Beyond the continental crown, the tournament doubles as Africa’s qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The top four finishers will secure automatic World Cup berths — a chance for African teams to continue their growing influence on the global stage after Nigeria and South Africa’s strong showings in 2023.

Welcome News & Cultural Significance

The decision was widely celebrated on social media. Fans praised CAF for “finally giving more African women the stage they deserve,” while others expressed excitement at seeing historic teams like Cameroon and Egypt return to top-tier competition.

The move also comes at a time when African women’s leagues are gaining traction. South Africa’s Hollywoodbets Super League, Ghana’s Women’s Premier League, and Morocco’s growing domestic structure have all contributed to a surge of interest, making the timing of this expansion feel both earned and strategic.

A Busy Year For Morocco’s Football Scene

Morocco continues to cement its status as Africa’s football hub. After successfully hosting multiple CAF events, the North African nation will also host the men’s Africa Cup of Nations from 22 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, featuring 24 teams. The back-to-back tournaments underscore Morocco’s infrastructure readiness and growing influence in African sport.

As anticipation builds for March, the expanded Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 promises not just more football, but more stories of ambition, pride, and progress for women across the continent.

Source: SuperSport
Image Source: ACL Sports on X

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