CAF expands 2026 women’s AFCON to 16 nations.

As reported by the BBC, the Confederation of African Football, CAF, confirmed the development over the weekend. It comes a month since rumours about the potential expansion began circulating. 

The move marks the third time that the number of nations participating in the final phase of the event has been increased since the competition began in 1991.

The women’s Affrica Cup of Nations which is Africa’s biggest women’s football competition for women’s national teams, tipped off as an eight-nation event before expanding into 12 teams during the 2022 edition in Morocco. The 2018 series in Ghana was the last eight-team version, the 2020 edition having been cancelled.

The expansion comes barely a year after CAF increased the event’s prize money by 45% in the leadup to the recent 2025 edition where Nigeria pocketed one million US Dollars for emerging as champions.

In a declaration after confirming the recent expansion, CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the move falls in line with the continental football governing body’s strides in continuously developing football across the African continent.

“I am pleased with the progress we’ve made in women’s African football. Part of my starting point is making sure (men and women) are paid well and they can make a career out of football,” Motsepe stated.

“I can assure you women’s football will continue to improve because that is an area we are focusing on a lot,” the South African added as quoted by BBC Sport.

Expansion likely to affect qualifies to 2026 tourney

The expansion to 12 teams is expected to affect the previous format that had been put in place for the qualifiers to the 2026 tournament which will take place in Morocco between March and April this year.

Qualifiers for the 2026 showpiece is currently in the second and final round where 22 nations are programmed to matchup later this month to determine the 11 nations that will join host nation Morocco.

It is believed that the expansion could force CAF to introduce a third round in the qualifiers to be able to determine the 15 nations that will finally qualify to join Morocco which is automatically qualified as the host nation.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3586 of Monday October 06, 2025