WAFCON Has Lost Its Last Two Champions. Who Takes Over?
: The Super Falcons' 10-time dominance and Banyana Banyana's recent rise are both over in Morocco. Four teams now have a rare chance to claim a place at the top.
WAFCON 2026 will have a new champion after Nigeria and South Africa, the winners of the last two editions, were both eliminated in the quarter-finals.
On August 8, hosts Moroccobeat South Africa 2–1, ending the defending champions' title defence. The following day, August 9,Cameroon beat Nigeria 1–0, knocking out the 2024 champions.
That leaves Morocco, Cameroon, Algeria and Malawi in the semi-finals. None has won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations before.
Nigeria's 10 Titles, South Africa's Recent Rise
Nigeria havewon WAFCON 10 times, more than any other country. South Africa broke that long dominance in 2022 when Banyana Banyana beat Morocco in the final, before Nigeria reclaimed the trophy in 2024.
Those two teams had won the last two editions coming into this tournament.
Now both are out before the semi-finals.
Morocco ended South Africa's defence, while Cameroon's win over Nigeria removed the other recent champion from the competition.
Who Can Take Their Place?
Morocco has another chance to finish what they started in 2022.
They reached the final when they hosted the tournament four years ago but lost to South Africa. This time, they have already beaten Banyana Banyana and will face Cameroon for a place in the final.
Cameroon got there by taking out Nigeria. The Indomitable Lionesses have reached the semi-finals before but have never won WAFCON. They now have another chance to go beyond that stage.
The defeat also changed Nigeria's route to the 2027 Women's World Cup. Only the four WAFCON semi-finalists qualify directly, so the Super Falcons will now have to go through the African play-offs for another chance to reach Brazil.
Algeria are in the last four for the first time after beating Côte d'Ivoire 2–1 on August 9. The result also secured their place at the 2027 Women's World Cup.
Malawi have reached the semi-finals for the first time in their debut WAFCON appearance. Their 2–1 win over Ghana on August 9 also sent them to their first Women's World Cup.
All four remaining teams have therefore secured World Cup places. Only one can take the WAFCON trophy.
Who Reaches the August 16 Final?
The semi-finals will be played on August 12, with Morocco facing Cameroon and Algeria taking on Malawi.
The winners will meet in the final on August 16 in Rabat.
By then, WAFCON will have a champion that has never won the tournament before.
And right now, there is no obvious answer to who that will be.