WAFCON D-15: 2015, the Year the Women’s AFCON Embraced Its Identity

The countdown continues to the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations TotalEnergies Morocco 2024. As the tournament approaches, CAFOnline.com looks back on the key milestones that have shaped this iconic competition, with its 13th edition already promising plenty of excitement.

Today’s spotlight is on August 6, 2015 — the date when the CAF Executive Committee made a symbolic decision: to officially rename the tournament the “Women’s Africa Cup of Nations,” in direct alignment with its male counterpart.

The CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations TotalEnergies 2024 kicks off in just 15 days.

It wasn’t until 2015 that Africa’s premier women’s tournament truly embraced its full identity. On August 6 of that year, following an Executive Committee meeting, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) made a historic move: the continental competition would now be called the “Women’s Africa Cup of Nations,” mirroring the name of the men’s tournament.

A minor detail? Far from it. This name change signaled formal recognition of the competition’s status and the growing importance of women’s football on the continent. No more secondary or marginal titles — from then on, the Women’s AFCON would stand as a full-fledged institution, with its own legacy, stakes, and heroines.

“It’s more than just a name — it’s a statement,” said then CAF President Issa Hayatou. “We’re no longer talking about a ‘small women’s tournament’; we’re affirming that this is a major championship.”

This identity shift came amid a time of deep transformation. In 2016, the tournament hosted in Cameroon was the first to carry the new name. On the pitch, Nigeria clinched their 8th title by defeating the Indomitable Lionesses in Yaoundé (1-0) in front of a packed stadium. Behind the scenes, CAF secured a major sponsorship deal with TotalEnergies, ushering in a new era of financial and media support for the competition.