Wafcon 2026: Cameroon Egypt Ivory Coast and Mali Secure Final Spots Through World Rankings
Cameroon, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and Mali have earned their spots in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) through FIFA world rankings. This development follows a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to expand the tournament from 12 to 16 teams.
Wafcon 2026: Final Qualifiers and Rankings
The finals will take place in Morocco, with the tournament dates tentatively set between March 17 and April 3, 2026. The draw for the tournament is yet to be announced.
Last month, reigning champions Nigeria secured their place in the tournament during the second and final qualifying round. However, 11 other teams that were eliminated were unable to qualify through additional play-offs. As a result, CAF utilized FIFA’s world rankings to determine the final four teams.
Qualified Teams and Their Rankings
- Cameroon – 66th in the world
- Ivory Coast – 71st in the world
- Mali – 79th in the world
- Egypt – 95th in the world
Mali previously reached the quarter-finals in the delayed 2024 edition. Cameroon, a three-time runner-up, last participated in Wafcon in 2022. Ivory Coast and Egypt will make their returns after absences since 2014 and 2016, respectively.
Impact on Future Competitions
The Wafcon 2026 tournament holds significant implications for global football. The top four semi-finalists will secure places at the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Additionally, the two losing quarter-finalists will compete for berths in an inter-confederation qualifier.
This format change by CAF highlights the importance of FIFA rankings in international competitions, shaping the future landscape of women’s football in Africa.
