The opening round of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations delivered 30 goals, two major upsets and several historic achievements as all 16 teams began their campaigns in Morocco.
Defending champions Nigeria suffered a stunning defeat to tournament debutants Malawi, Tanzania recorded their first WAFCON victory and Zambia captain Barbra Banda produced the outstanding individual performance of Matchday One with four goals against Egypt.
Hosts Morocco, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, Ghana and Cameroon also began with victories as attention turns to a potentially decisive second round of group matches.
- Group A: Morocco take early control as Algeria stay solid
- Group B: Tanzania make history as Ivory Coast impress
- Group C: Banda runs riot as Malawi stun Nigeria
- Group D: Ghana and Cameroon make winning starts
- Banda sets the early Golden Boot pace
- Matchday One results in full
- Biggest Matchday One talking points
- World Cup places increase the stakes
Group A: Morocco take early control as Algeria stay solid
Algeria opened the tournament with a disciplined 2-0 victory over Senegal in Rabat.
Captain Marine Dafeur converted a penalty in the 42nd minute before Mélissa Bethi capitalised on a late defensive error to seal the points two minutes from time.
Senegal created opportunities after the interval but could not find a way past Chloé N’Gazi and Algeria’s organised defence. The result extended the Fennecs’ run without conceding at the WAFCON finals, having kept clean sheets throughout their previous appearance in 2024.
Morocco responded with the most emphatic performance of Group A, beating Kenya 4-0 at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
Sakina Ouzraoui opened the scoring before Meriem Atiq doubled the hosts’ advantage. Ibtissam Jraïdi then scored either side of half-time to complete her brace and move Morocco above Algeria on goal difference.
The Atlas Lionesses, runners-up at the previous two editions, dominated possession and effectively decided the contest with three first-half goals.
Group A results
Algeria 2-0 Senegal
Morocco 4-0 Kenya
Morocco lead the group on goal difference, with Algeria second. Senegal and Kenya are still searching for their first points.
Group B: Tanzania make history as Ivory Coast impress
Tanzania produced one of the biggest results of the opening round by defeating former champions South Africa 2-1 in Casablanca.
Diana Msewa put the Twiga Stars ahead in the 37th minute before Bambanani Mbane equalised for Banyana Banyana. Substitute Hasnath Ubamba then scored the winner in the 86th minute to secure Tanzania’s first victory at the WAFCON finals.
The result also ended South Africa’s 10-match unbeaten run in the competition’s group stage and placed the 2022 champions under immediate pressure.
Ivory Coast marked their return to the tournament after a 12-year absence with a dominant 4-1 victory over Burkina Faso.
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Rebecca Elloh opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Inès Konan struck twice as the Lady Elephants established a 3-0 half-time lead.
Adama Congo pulled one back for Burkina Faso immediately after the restart, but N’sira Ouedraogo restored Ivory Coast’s three-goal advantage in the 56th minute.
Contrary to the initial account, Burkina Faso goalkeeper Faoziatou Ouedraogo was not listed by CAF as being sent off during the match.
Group B results
Tanzania 2-1 South Africa
Côte d’Ivoire 4-1 Burkina Faso
Ivory Coast sit top on goal difference, with Tanzania second following their landmark win.
Group C: Banda runs riot as Malawi stun Nigeria
Zambia delivered the biggest victory of Matchday One, overwhelming Egypt 6-0 in Rabat.
Racheal Nachula converted a first-half penalty before Banda took control of the contest after the break. The Copper Queens captain scored four times and also assisted Eneless Phiri, becoming directly involved in five of Zambia’s six goals.
Her performance sent Zambia to the top of Group C and immediately established her as the early Golden Boot leader.
The greatest shock of the round followed when debutants Malawi defeated defending champions Nigeria 3-2.
Temwa Chawinga scored twice, including the decisive goal in the fifth minute of added time, while her older sister Tabitha Chawinga also found the net.
Nigeria attempted a late recovery through captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu, whose goal arrived in the ninth minute of stoppage time, but the Scorchers held on for their first WAFCON victory.
The result was historic on several levels. Nigeria had won 16 and drawn one of their previous 17 matches against tournament debutants and had never previously lost to a newcomer at the competition.
Group C results
Zambia 6-0 Egypt
Malawi 3-2 Nigeria
Zambia lead the section on goal difference, followed by Malawi. Nigeria and Egypt must respond quickly in their second matches.
Group D: Ghana and Cameroon make winning starts
Ghana began their campaign with a controlled 2-0 victory over debutants Cape Verde.
Doris Boaduwaa opened the scoring after only six minutes before Cape Verde defender Eleia Vieira turned the ball into her own net nine minutes after the restart.
Cape Verde finished with 10 players after Klaydiana Borges, not Diana Borges as initially stated, was shown a red card in stoppage time.
The Black Queens managed the encounter comfortably and extended their unbeaten record against WAFCON debutants.
Cameroon then edged Mali 2-1 in the final match of the opening round.
Marie Gisèle Ngah Manga gave the Indomitable Lionesses the lead in the 14th minute before Aïssata Traoré equalised for Mali from the penalty spot.
Manga converted another penalty following a VAR review in the 72nd minute to complete her brace and secure all three points for Cameroon.
Group D results
Ghana 2-0 Cape Verde
Cameroon 2-1 Mali
Ghana occupy first place on goal difference, with Cameroon second.
Banda sets the early Golden Boot pace
Banda leads the tournament’s scoring chart with four goals following her remarkable performance against Egypt.
Jraïdi, Konan, Manga and Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga are the other players to have scored twice.
Temwa, rather than Tabitha Chawinga, is therefore joint-second in the early Golden Boot race. Tabitha scored Malawi’s other goal against Nigeria.
Matchday One results in full
Group A
Algeria 2-0 Senegal
Morocco 4-0 Kenya
Group B
Tanzania 2-1 South Africa
Ivory Coast 4-1 Burkina Faso
Group C
Zambia 6-0 Egypt
Malawi 3-2 Nigeria
Group D
Ghana 2-0 Cape Verde
Cameroon 2-1 Mali
Biggest Matchday One talking points
Malawi’s victory over Nigeria was the defining result of the round. The Scorchers entered the tournament as debutants but defeated Africa’s record champions in their first appearance.
Tanzania also made history by securing their first WAFCON win at the expense of South Africa, while Ivory Coast announced their return to the continental stage with four goals.
Banda’s four-goal display was the standout individual contribution, while Morocco demonstrated why they remain among the favourites after consecutive runners-up finishes.
The opening eight matches produced 30 goals, an average of 3.75 per game. Zambia’s 6-0 victory was both the largest win and the highest-scoring performance of the round.
World Cup places increase the stakes
The tournament also serves as Africa’s qualification competition for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The four WAFCON semi-finalists will qualify directly, while two other teams will have an opportunity to reach the global tournament through the inter-confederation play-offs.
Only the top two teams in each group progress to the quarter-finals, making the second round particularly important for Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal and the other nations defeated in their opening matches.
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