WAFCON 2026: More Countries Arrive Morocco Few Days To Kick-off 

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist

Less than a week to the kick-off of the 14th edition of the biggest women’s football in Africa, Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco,  more countries have arrived the host country to put finishing touches to their  preparations.

Aside from Nigeria, which opened camp in Casablanca, the commercial capital of the Kingdom of Morocco a week ago, debutants Malawi women’s national team, “The Scorchers,” have also arrived in Morocco to finalise their preparations for their maiden appearance at the WAFCON.

The squad is currently based in Mohammedia after relocating from Rabat. The Scorchers qualified for their first-ever WAFCON and have been drawn into Group C alongside Nigeria, Egypt, and Zambia.  Their tournament campaign will officially kick off on July 28 against Nigeria.

In a bid to stay in touch with the “enemies,” Egypt senior women’s national football team is finalizing its preparations for the WAFCON in Morocco despite being from the North African geographical area.

Drawn in Group C alongside defending champions Nigeria, Zambia, and Malawi, Egypt’s all group stage matches will be played in the host city of Rabat, beginning with their opening match against Zambia on July 28 at the Rabat Olympic Stadium.

Also, Ghanadd and Cameroon women’s football teams are currently training in Morocco. Both the Black Queens and Indomitable Lionesses have arrived in Casablanca for a crucial acclimatization and training camp ahead of the 2026 WAFCON, which kicks off on Sunday.

Ghana arrived last week with a 26-woman squad while Cameroon’s squad featured 26 players, with three to be cut to finalize the 23-player roster before the competition begins. Cameroon has been drawn into Group D alongside Ghana, Mali, and Cape Verde.

Other countries already settled down in  Morocco, include Tanzania’s women national team , who are currently in Casablanca as the Twiga Stars intensify their training ahead of the continental showpiece. They are placed in Group B alongside South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast.

Senegal is also in town as the Senegalese Lionesses following their final training sessions have relocated to Morocco to adjust to the host conditions. They will kick off their WAFCON campaign in Group A, opening the entire tournament on July 26 against Algeria, before facing Kenya and the host nation, Morocco.

Cape Verde women’s national football team is currently in Casablanca, Morocco, actively training ahead of their historic debut at the WAFCON. The squad arrived in the country to finalize their pre-tournament preparations ahead of the competition, which is scheduled to run from July 26 to August 16.

The Burkina Faso women’s football team is also in Morocco, completing their final training camp ahead of the WAFCON 2026 kick-off, with the team competing in Group B alongside South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Tanzania.

Also, in the training camp in Morocco, are the Cameroon women’s football team as the Indomitable Lionesses last week traveled to Casablanca with a squad of 26 players for a crucial pre-tournament training and acclimatization camp ahead of the 2026 WAFCON), which kicks off on July 26.

In the same vein, the Ivory Coast women’s national football team (Les Éléphantes) are  currently in Morocco for their final pre-tournament training camp ahead of the tournament. As part of their build-up to the tournament, the squad held a closed-door friendly match against Ghana in Casablanca on July 14, 2026. The team is using this time in the country for acclimatization before the WAFCON kicks off on July 25, 2026. Ivory Coast will compete in Group B alongside South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania.

However, Nigeria’s Group C opponents, the Zambia Women’s National Football Team (the Copper Queens) are currently holding their pre-WAFCON 2026 training camp in Algeria, rather than Morocco.

They travelled to Algiers in mid-July following local training at the University of Lusaka Sports Complex and recently played an international friendly against Algeria on July 19 that ended in a 1-1.

Also, Kenya women’s national football team (Harambee Starlets) is currently holding its pre-tournament training camp in Miramas, France, rather than Morocco.The squad traveled to France on July 15, 2026, to fine-tune their tactics and build match fitness in a high-performance environment.

They are scheduled to depart for Morocco on July 23, 2026, ahead of the WAFCON tournament. Kenya is in Group A alongside host Morocco, Senegal, and Algeria. The Starlets will play their opening match of the tournament against hosts Morocco on July 26.

Head coach Beldine Odemba is using the one-week residential training camp in France to fine-tune tactics, improve match fitness, and build team chemistry. The 24-player squad includes key returnees and domestic talents eager to make an impact in the continental showpiece.

Meanwhile, North African neighbouring country Algeria will arrive in Morocco late as they prepare their team at home because they have the same climate with hosts Morocco.

Algeria women’s football team (The Greens) are currently training in Algeria, not in Morocco, by holding their pre-tournament training camps at the Sidi Moussa National Training Centre in Algiers and Oran.

The tournament, which serves as 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup African qualifiers, is holding from July 26 to August 16.