11 Days to Go Before the Women’s AFCON: More Nations, Greater Ambitions

With just 11 days to go until kick-off, CAFOnline.com invites you to look back at some of the landmark moments of a tournament poised to celebrate its 1"th edition. Among the most significant recent developments is the tournament’s expansion to 12 teams in 2022—a decisive shift in the evolution of women’s football on the continent.

Women’s Africa Cup of Nations: 11 Days to Go

Long limited to an eight-team format, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations entered a new era in 2022 with its expansion to 12 nations. Spearheaded by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), this structural reform was driven by a desire to foster greater inclusion, competitiveness, and visibility for the women’s game across Africa.

This transformation aligns with the 2021–2025 action plan unveiled by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe during the Ordinary General Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, in 2021. At the time, the South African leader made his ambitions clear:

“This is a commitment to the players, to the young girls who dare to dream, and to all those investing in the future of women’s football in Africa.”

The move to a 12-team format paved the way for emerging nations to make their debut on the continental stage. In 2022, Burundi, Botswana, Burkina Faso and Togo all took part in their first-ever WAFCON—a historic opening that significantly raised the overall level of the competition.

The new structure, built around three groups of four teams, offers a more intense first round. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed sides, advance to the quarter-finals. The result: more matches, increased playing time, and an environment conducive to technical and tactical development.

On the pitch, the 2022 edition hosted by Morocco proved a turning point. Four teams—Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria and Zambia—secured direct qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a strong statement of intent from a continent on the rise. The results followed: three of those nations—Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa—reached the Round of 16, a historic feat for African women’s football on the global stage.