Defending champions Nigeria have been drawn alongside Egypt, Zambia and debutants Malawi for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, following the official draw held in Rabat on Thursday.
The tournament will take place in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, just eight months after the previous edition, which was also hosted by Morocco and saw Nigeria defeat the hosts in the final. The last tournament had been delayed by a year due to logistical challenges.
Next month’s championship carries added significance as it will also serve as Africa’s qualification pathway for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, to be held in Brazil. The top four teams at the tournament will secure Africa’s slots at the global event.
Nigeria, the most successful team in the history of the competition with a record 10 continental titles, have been placed in Group C. South Africa are the only other team in the field to have previously won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The group allocations are as follows:
Group A (Rabat – Moulay Hassan Stadium): Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya
Group B (Rabat – Al Madina Stadium): South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Tanzania
Group C (Casablanca): Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi
Group D (Fes): Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde
The draw sets the stage for a highly competitive tournament, with World Cup qualification and continental glory both at stake.
