After expansion and delays, Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) starts this weekend. Originally scheduled for 12 teams and in March, the tournament will kick off in July with 16 teams. Though not in an official FIFA international window, the Spirit will be well represented in the tournament by both some familiar names and a few newer ones. With six players representing five nations, the Spirit will have at least one player representing the team in every day of the group stage. There are more prizes at stake than just glory. The four semifinalists will book direct passage to the World Cup next year. The four teams that fall in the quaterfinals will go into a playoff to determine CAF’s two entrants into the World Cup intercontinental playoff. Let’s take a look at who’s playing and who they’ll face .

Deb Abiodun and Gift Monday (Nigeria)

Nigeria have been the class of WAFCON since the tournament’s inception. The Super Falcon’s have qualified for every edition and won it 10 out 13 times (12 out of 15 if you count the two unofficial versions in 1991 and 1995). They return to Morocco, the site of the last two WAFCONs, looking to defend their title from 2024 and add to their record number of championships. To do so, Nigeria will have to go through teams headlined by familiar names. The Super Falcons will kick off their tournament against tournament debutante Malawi and two time reigning two-time NWSL MVP and 2 time reigning Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga. Next up in the group stage are Orlando’s Barbara Banda, Angel City’s Prisca Chilufya, and Bay FC’s Rachael Kundananji and their Zambian teammates. Nigeria finishes the group stage with a match up against Egypt.

Both Gift Monday and Deb Abiodun are mainstays with the Nigerian Women’s National Team who have featured in major international tournaments. Monday debuted for the Super Falcons in 2021 and has appeared in 14 matches since then, including the 2023 World Cup. Gift last appeared for her country in a pair of friendlies in the March international window against Cameroon where she started the first match (a 1-0 loss) and came of the bench in the second (a 3-1 win). Deb Abiodun has featured 17 times for her country, including in the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics. She last featured in Octobers qualifiers against Benin. In the first match, Deb provided the assists on both Nigerian goals in their 2-0. In the second match, she subbed of in the second half with an injury in what finished as a 1-1 draw.

Upcoming Matches

• 28 July vs Malawi – Al Medina Stadium, Rabat
• 1 August vs Zambia – Al Medina Stadium, Rabat
• 5 August vs Egypt – Rabat Olympic Stadium, Rabat

Rose Kouassi (Ivory Coast)

After falling in penalty kicks to Senegal in the final round of WAFCON qualifiers, Ivory Coast were one of the four nations who benefited from CAF’s decision after the completion of qualification to expand the tournament from 12 to 16 teams. Les Éléphantes will face off against previous WAFCON champion South Africa (2022), Burkina Faso, and Tanzania in matches in Rabat and Casablanca.

Kouassi was called in to the national team camp for a pair of friendlies against Cape Verde in June where she started the first match and bagged a brace as part of a 3-0 victory. Kouassi started the second match as well which finished as a 0-0 draw.

Upcoming Matches

• 27 July vs Burkina Faso – Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Rabat
• 31 July vs South Africa – Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
• 4 August vs Tanzania – Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Rabat

Monique Ngock (Cameroon)

Cameroon are another of WAFCON’s traditional powers. Including the two unofficial editions, the Indomitable Lionesses have only missed the tournament twice in 35 years. Cameroon have finished as runner’s up four times, most recently in 2016. This year marks their return to WAFCON after a four year absence. The Indomitable Lionesses will face off against Mali, Ghana, and Cape Verde in the group stage.

Ngock debuted for the national team in 2022 and participated in WAFCON 2022. She has made at least 7 appearances for her country over the last four years.

Upcoming Matches

• 29 July vs Mali – Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca
• 2 August vs Ghana – Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca
• 6 August vs Cape Verde – Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca

Alimata Bélem (Burkina Faso)

Burkina Faso qualified for WAFCON for the first time in 2022. For their follow up trip to the tournament, they will face South Africa, Ivory Coast and Tanzania in the group stage.

Bélem, NWSL’s first Burkinabé player, first debut for her national team in 2019 at age 15. She was part of the Burkina Faso team that qualified for the 2022 WAFCON tournament. In total, Bélem has appeared at least 15 times for her country and scored twice.

Upcoming Matches

• 27 July vs Ivory Coast – Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Rabat
• 31 July vs Tanzania – Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Rabat
• 4 August vs South Africa – Moulay Rachid Stadium, Casablanca

Mélissa Bethi (Algeria)

Algeria are making their 7th overall WAFCON appearance. Drawn into Group A and playing three matches in Rabat, the Fennecs will face the host Morocco, Senegal, and Kenya.

The Spirit’s newest player Mélissa Bethi made her official debut for Algeria in 2024. She has made at least 6 appearances for her country over the last two years.

Upcoming Matches

• 26 July vs Senegal – Rabat Olympic Stadium, Rabat
• 30 July vs Morocco – Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat
• 3 August vs Kenya – Rabat Olympic Stadium, Rabat

How To Watch

WAFCON will be available through beIN Sports and beIN Sports Connect.