AFCON: CAF brings back 4 eliminated nations! (Official) | OneFootball

CAF revives 4 eliminated teams for AFCON! (Official)

AFCON: CAF brings back 4 eliminated nations! (Official)

This decision marks a major turning point for African women's football. The CAF Executive Committee has approved the expansion of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations to 16 teams, up from the previous 12. This reform will take effect as early as the next edition, scheduled to take place in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026—a tournament that already promises to be historic.

A new opening to support the rise of women's football

With the rapid growth of women's football across the continent, CAF wanted to provide more opportunities for African national teams to showcase their talent. While the initial 12 qualifiers were already set, the federation had to implement an unprecedented repechage system to select four additional teams, as the qualifiers had already concluded.Based on the FIFA Women's World Ranking, the top eliminated nations from the final round have been reinstated: Cameroon (66th), Ivory Coast (71st), Mali (79th), and Egypt (95th).

They now join Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Senegal, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Cape Verde, Burkina Faso, and South Africa to complete the 16-team lineup.Beyond its symbolic significance, this edition will also serve as a qualifying tournament for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. It's a unique opportunity for African nations to continue their rise on the global stage and prove that women's football in Africa is entering a new era of recognition and development.