Côte d’Ivoire begin their Total Energies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026 campaign on Monday when they face Burkina Faso in a Group B clash at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Boldsports report.
The West African rivals meet at the tournament for the first time, with both sides aiming to make a strong start in a group where every point could prove decisive.
Côte d’Ivoire return to the continental finals after a 12-year absence. Their last appearance came in 2014 when they secured a third-place finish, their best result in the competition. Burkina Faso, meanwhile, are playing in only their second WAFCON after debuting in 2022 and are still searching for their first victory at the tournament. That contrast adds extra significance to Monday’s encounter.
The Lady Elephants have featured in two previous WAFCON editions, reaching the podium in 2014 after defeating South Africa 1-0 in the third-place play-off. That victory remains their most recent match at the finals and means they enter this tournament looking for back-to-back WAFCON wins for the first time.
Head coach Reynald Pedros also arrives with strong tournament credentials. The Frenchman guided Morocco to the 2022 WAFCON final and a historic FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification before taking charge of Côte d’Ivoire in January 2025.
Pedros believes his side can challenge the established powers.
“I know Morocco well. The organization is perfect and although the tournament format has changed to 16 teams, the objective remains the same for us – to give our all so that we have no regrets.”
He added:
“The level of competition will be very high, and we hope to be the surprise of this WAFCON. Our objectives are to finish first in Group B, reach the quarterfinals and then qualify for the semifinals.”
Captain Bernadette Amani Kakouna also expressed confidence ahead of the opener.
“The national anthem is something sacred; hearing it at the WAFCON is motivating, and it is extraordinary to participate in this WAFCON edition. We are ready. We have trained for this.”
Burkina Faso return after missing the previous edition. They collected one point from three matches during their 2022 debut, drawing 2-2 with Uganda after narrow defeats to Morocco and Senegal.
The Lady Stallions qualified in impressive fashion, beating Burundi 5-1 on aggregate before eliminating Togo 3-0 across two legs. Naomie Kabré scored a hat-trick against Burundi, while Adama Congo also found the net during qualification.
Coach Issa Balbone remains optimistic despite Côte d’Ivoire’s higher FIFA ranking.
“We want to start off on a high note in our opening game. We know that Côte d’Ivoire is ranked higher than us [in the FIFA rankings] but on the pitch, things are different. Football has evolved. We have a top level. We shall see during the game.”
He added:
“Playing at the WAFCON is a celebration of African Football. There is rivalry in West Africa between Côte d’Ivoire and ourselves. Our players are confident. They understand the level when we face Côte d’Ivoire.”
Midfielder Charlotte Millogo also believes her team can compete.
“We are looking for the kind of result that can get us far. We will take it one match at a time. A good result in the first match will help us to achieve our tournament objective. We are united, supportive, and we will give our best on the field.”
Monday’s fixture comes after the opening Group A matches, where hosts Morocco produced a commanding 4-0 victory over Kenya to move top of the standings. Algeria also opened with a 2-0 win over Senegal, leaving Morocco and Algeria level on three points after the first round of matches.
For Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, a winning start would provide early momentum before tougher tests later in Group B.
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