The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations schedule runs from 26 July to 16 August, with 16 teams playing across Rabat and Casablanca. The competition begins with hosts Morocco facing Kenya and concludes three weeks later with the final in Rabat. Between those matches, the tournament will also decide which African nations qualify directly for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
All kickoff times in the WAFCON 2026 schedule below are listed in Morocco local time, GMT+1. For information about the groups, venues, participating teams and tournament format, read our complete Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 guide.
Full WAFCON 2026 Fixture List
The group stage contains 24 matches and runs from 26 July to 6 August. The top two teams in each group progress to the quarter-finals. The knockout stage begins on 8 August, followed by the semi-finals, World Cup qualification play-offs, third-place match and final.
| Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 Schedule | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Time | Match | Group | Location |
| 26 July 2026 | 21:00 | Morocco vs. Kenya | A | MES Rabat |
| 26 July 2026 | 18:00 | Algeria vs. Senegal | A | OS Rabat |
| 27 July 2026 | 18:00 | South Africa vs. Tanzania | B | MRS Casablanca |
| 27 July 2026 | 21:00 | Cote d’Ivoire vs. Burkina Faso | B | LZS Casablanca |
| 28 July 2026 | 21:00 | Nigeria vs. Malawi | C | AMS Rabat |
| 28 July 2026 | 18:00 | Zambia vs. Egypt | C | OS Rabat |
| 29 July 2026 | 18:00 | Ghana vs. Cape Verde | D | MRS Casablanca |
| 29 July 2026 | 21:00 | Cameroon vs. Mali | D | LZS Casablanca |
| Date | Time | Match | Group | Location |
| 30 July 2026 | 21:00 | Morocco vs. Algeria | A | MES Rabat |
| 30 July 2026 | 18:00 | Senegal vs. Kenya | A | OS Rabat |
| 31 July 2026 | 18:00 | South Africa vs. Côte d’Ivoire | B | MRS Casablanca |
| 31 July 2026 | 21:00 | Burkina Faso vs. Tanzania | B | LZS Casablanca |
| 1 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | Nigeria vs. Zambia | C | AMS Rabat |
| 1 Aug 2026 | 18:00 | Egypt vs. Malawi | C | MH Rabat |
| 2 Aug 2026 | 18:00 | Ghana vs. Cameroon | D | MRS Casablanca |
| 2 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | Mali vs. Cape Verde | D | LZS Casablanca |
| Date | Time | Match | Group | Location |
| 3 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | Senegal vs. Morocco | A | MES Rabat |
| 3 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | Kenya vs. Algeria | A | OS Rabat |
| 4 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | Burkina Faso vs. South Africa | B | MRS Casablanca |
| 4 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | Tanzania vs. Côte d’Ivoire | B | LZS Casablanca |
| 5 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | Egypt vs. Nigeria | C | OS Rabat |
| 5 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | Malawi vs. Zambia | C | AMS Rabat |
| 6 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | Mali vs. Ghana | D | MRS Casablanca |
| 6 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | Cape Verde vs. Cameroon | D | LZS Casablanca |
| Date | Time | Match | Group | Location |
| 8 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | A1 vs. B2 | QF 1 | MES Rabat |
| 8 Aug 2026 | 18:00 | B1 vs. A2 | QF 2 | MRS Casablanca |
| 9 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | C1 vs. D2 | QF 3 | AMS Rabat |
| 9 Aug 2026 | 18:00 | D1 vs. C2 | QF 4 | LZS Casablanca |
| Date | Time | Match | Group | Location |
| 12 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | Winner QF 1 vs. Winner QF 4 | SF 1 | MES Rabat |
| 12 Aug 2026 | 18:00 | Winner QF 2 vs. Winner QF 3 | SF 2 | OS Rabat |
| Date | Time | Match | Group | Location |
| 13 Aug 2026 | 21:00 | Loser QF 1 vs. Loser QF 4 | WC Play-Offs | MRS Casablanca |
| 13 Aug 2026 | 18:00 | Loser QF 2 vs. Loser QF 3 | WC Play-Offs | LZS Casablanca |
| Date | Time | Match | Group | Location |
| 15 Aug 2026 | 18:00 | Loser SF 1 vs. Loser SF 2 | 3rd Place | OS Rabat |
| Date | Time | Match | Group | Location |
| 16 Aug 2026 | 20:00 | Winner SF 1 vs. Winner SF 2 | Final | MEH/MA Rabat |
When Does WAFCON 2026 Start?
WAFCON 2026 begins on 26 July with two Group A fixtures in Rabat. Algeria and Senegal meet at the Olympic Stadium at 18:00 before hosts Morocco open their campaign against Kenya at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium at 21:00.
Morocco’s opening match will immediately place attention on a team expected to challenge for the title on home soil. Kenya, meanwhile, enter the tournament with an opportunity to disrupt a group in which Morocco, Algeria and Senegal will all expect to compete for the two quarter-final places.
The first round of group matches continues over the following three days:
- South Africa vs Tanzania — 27 July
- Côte d’Ivoire vs Burkina Faso — 27 July
- Nigeria vs Malawi — 28 July
- Zambia vs Egypt — 28 July
- Ghana vs Cape Verde — 29 July
- Cameroon vs Mali — 29 July
By the end of 29 July, every country will have played once in the WAFCON 2026 Schedule.
Nigeria WAFCON 2026 Fixtures
Defending champions Nigeria begin their campaign against Malawi before facing Zambia and Egypt in Group C.
Nigeria vs Malawi
Date: 28 July
Kickoff: 21:00
Venue: Al Madina Stadium, Rabat
Nigeria’s opening match gives the Super Falcons an opportunity to establish control of the group before their most significant fixture.
Nigeria vs Zambia
Date: 1 August
Kickoff: 21:00
Venue: Al Madina Stadium, Rabat
Nigeria against Zambia is one of the standout matches of the entire group stage. Both countries will expect to reach the quarter-finals, and their meeting could determine who finishes first in Group C. Winning the group would also influence their route through the knockout stage, with the Group C winner scheduled to face the runner-up from Group D.
Zambia’s attacking talent makes this a far more demanding test than Nigeria’s opening match against Malawi.
Egypt vs Nigeria
Date: 5 August
Kickoff: 21:00
Venue: Olympic Stadium, Rabat
Nigeria complete the group stage against Egypt on the same evening that Malawi face Zambia. Both Group C matches begin simultaneously to prevent either team gaining an advantage from knowing the other result.
Depending on the outcome against Zambia, Nigeria’s final fixture could decide the group or determine whether the defending champions progress at all.
Morocco WAFCON 2026 Fixtures
Morocco play all three of their group matches in Rabat, with two taking place at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
Morocco vs Kenya
Date: 26 July
Kickoff: 21:00
Venue: Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
The hosts open the tournament against Kenya in front of their home support. Morocco will be expected to control the match, but the opening fixture also brings pressure. A strong start would put them in position to approach their next two matches without immediately chasing points.
Morocco vs Algeria
Date: 30 July
Kickoff: 21:00
Venue: Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
Morocco’s second match is also one of the most anticipated fixtures of the group stage. The meeting with Algeria carries regional significance and could have a major influence on qualification from Group A. With Senegal also competing for a quarter-final place, neither side can afford to treat the derby as an isolated occasion.
Senegal vs Morocco
Date: 3 August
Kickoff: 21:00
Venue: Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
Morocco finish the group stage against Senegal while Kenya face Algeria at the Olympic Stadium.
WAFCON 2026 Group-Stage Matches to Watch
Several fixtures stand out because of their potential influence on the quarter-final draw.
Morocco vs Algeria — 30 July
The hosts face one of their closest regional rivals in a match that could reshape Group A before the final round.
South Africa vs Côte d’Ivoire — 31 July
South Africa are expected to challenge for the title, but Côte d’Ivoire represent their strongest group-stage test. The winner may take control of Group B.
Nigeria vs Zambia — 1 August
The two leading teams in Group C meet in Rabat. The result could decide the group winner and therefore each country’s quarter-final opponent.
Ghana vs Cameroon — 2 August
Two established African nations meet in a Group D fixture that may prove decisive. With Mali also capable of competing for qualification, dropped points could be costly.
Senegal vs Morocco — 3 August
Morocco’s final group match could determine whether the hosts win Group A, qualify in second place or face an unexpectedly early exit.
WAFCON 2026 Schedule: Quarter-Final
The quarter-finals will be played on 8 and 9 August.
8 August
Quarter-final 1: Group A winner vs Group B runner-up
Kickoff: 21:00
Venue: Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
Quarter-final 2: Group B winner vs Group A runner-up
Kickoff: 18:00
Venue: Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
9 August
Quarter-final 3: Group C winner vs Group D runner-up
Kickoff: 21:00
Venue: Al Madina Stadium, Rabat
Quarter-final 4: Group D winner vs Group C runner-up
Kickoff: 18:00
Venue: Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
These are the most consequential matches of the tournament.
The four quarter-final winners qualify directly for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Reaching the WAFCON semi-finals therefore guarantees a place at the World Cup.
The four losing quarter-finalists are not immediately eliminated from World Cup contention. They move into the FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off pathway, beginning with two additional matches on 13 August.
WAFCON Semi-Final Schedule
Both semi-finals take place on 12 August.
The winner of Quarter-final 1 faces the winner of Quarter-final 4 at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium at 21:00.
The winner of Quarter-final 2 meets the winner of Quarter-final 3 at the Olympic Stadium at 18:00.
By this stage, all four teams will already have secured direct World Cup qualification. The focus then shifts fully towards reaching the continental final.
World Cup Qualification Play-Off Fixtures
The four losing quarter-finalists will play on 13 August.
The loser of Quarter-final 1 faces the loser of Quarter-final 4 at the Moulay Rachid Stadium at 21:00.
The loser of Quarter-final 2 meets the loser of Quarter-final 3 at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium at 18:00.
These fixtures form part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off pathway, offering the defeated quarter-finalists another route towards Brazil 2027.
Third-Place Match and WAFCON 2026 Final
The third-place match takes place on 15 August at 18:00 at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. The WAFCON 2026 final will be played on 16 August at 20:00 in Rabat.
The final venue has not yet been confirmed. The schedule currently lists either the Moulay El Hassan Stadium or Moulay Abdallah Stadium, with a final decision still to come.
Why It Matters
The WAFCON schedule creates two tournaments within one. The first is the race to become African champion. The second is the fight for qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
That makes group position particularly important. Finishing first can shape the quarter-final opponent, while one knockout victory is enough to secure a place in Brazil.
For Nigeria, Zambia, Morocco, South Africa, Ghana, Cameroon and the other contenders, the route to the World Cup is compressed into one decisive evening on 8 or 9 August.
Source: CAF WAFCON 2026 Schedule
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