Seven Stories Defining WAFCON 2026

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 (WAFCON) has once again delivered compelling narratives alongside the breathtaking action on the pitch. 

Though initially shrouded in broadcast controversies, the endearing and enduring stories of sisterhood, queer love, and perseverance amid a flurry of eye-catching on-pitch results have made the tournament memorable. 

Here are seven compelling stories from WAFCON 2026 as we look ahead to the semi-finals, where Algeria take on Malawi, and host Morocco face Cameroon.

Destiny’s children: the Chaŵinga sisters

Tournament debutants Malawi stole the headlines and the hearts of many football fans in their opening match, completing one of the biggest upsets in WAFCON history by beating reigning champions Nigeria 3-2. What made the result more remarkable was that all three goals were scored by a pair of sisters – the Chawingas.

Tabitha and Temwa Chaŵinga of Olympique Lyonnais and Kansas City, respectively, are two cogs in an impressive Malawian outfit that has proven capable of beating anyone on its day. 

The Scorchers will fancy their chances of continuing their unprecedented debut and reaching a first WAFCON final, with the sister act sure to play a crucial role in the semi-final against Algeria. 

Having left Northern Malawi as young girls to pursue dreams that have since taken them to the highest levels of the game, the sisters can now add a first qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup to their story.

From the aisle to the pitch: Meet the Moodaly-Salgados

South Africa’s Robyn and Gabriela Moodaly-Salgado made history as the first married couple to play at a WAFCON tournament together in the shocking defeat to Tanzania. 

Banyana Banyana would quickly divorce themselves from that whimper, grinding out the results required to qualify as Group B runners-up. Defeat to Morocco in the quarterfinals, however, meant there would be no honeymoon-like renaissance for the 2022 champions. 

Through it all, the couple’s story remained one of the tournament’s notable highlights.

Though not uncommon in women’s football, their story carries particular significance on a continent where LGBTQ+ people continue to face legal restrictions and social hostility in many countries. 

Their union and game-time on a continental stage illustrate the important role women’s football continues to play in queer visibility within the beautiful game. 

Men’s football could learn a thing or two.  

From ACL heartbreak to World Cup history: Amira Ould Braham

Algeria’s come-from-behind victory over Côte d’Ivoire in the quarterfinals was both thrilling and momentous for the North African outfit. 

Prior to the 2024 edition of WAFCON, Les Fennecs had never made it past the group stage. Fast-forward to this year’s edition and they’ve not only made it to the semi-finals but also qualified for their first FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year. 

The match-winning hero was Amira Ould Braham — a plot only the football gods could conjure. Having suffered a career-threatening ACL rupture in 2019, she has slowly built herself up to meet the moment that now helped change the trajectory of Algerian women’s football.

Their meeting with fellow semi-final debutants Malawi may have been a surprising last-four pairing before the tournament, but both have already proven that counting either one of them out would be a grave mistake.   

Kautar Azraf: Morocco’s brightest prospect

Kautar Azraf has used this tournament to enhance her reputation as one of Africa’s brightest upcoming stars, with two starts against Kenya and Algeria in the group stage. 

The 18-year-old FC Barcelona Femení prospect looks set to lead the next generation of Moroccan footballers taking over from the likes of Ghizlane Chebbak, who broke ground for the women’s game in their country with consecutive WAFCON final appearances. 

The host nation are undoubtedly favorites heading into their semi-final battle against Cameroon, having ousted South Africa in a convincing display. Azraf was an unused substitute in that game, but such is the quality of this iteration of the host that they still prevailed. 

Though the Atlas Lionesses have a strong cohort of experienced campaigners, Azraf serves as an embodiment of what Morocco’s investment in the women’s game could yield for generations to come.

A first title on home soil, perhaps?

Rachael Nachula & Zambia: The Two-Sport Trailblazer

Imagine representing your country in two sporting codes at the highest level? Not many people can say this, but for Zambia’s Rachael Nachula, it’s reality. 

Football may have been her first love, but athletics initially offered the stage on which her prodigious talent flourished.

She first represented Zambia at the Beijing Summer Olympics as a 200m and 400m sprinter. She would go on to trade the track for the football pitch, representing her country at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 and becoming Zambia’s first two-sport Olympian.

WAFCON 2026 has now seen her make history as the tournament’s oldest goalscorer at 40. Her campaign, however, reached an unceremonious end as the Copper Queens were eliminated, finishing 3rd in Group C despite amassing 6 points with wins over Malawi and Egypt. 

But the streets will not forget the baller for her versatility, not only on the track but also on the green, where she has illustrated her ability as both a winger and a full-back. 

Eighth time lucky for Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné? 

Cameroon’s Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné and her compatriots will go into her country’s semi-final encounter against hosts Morocco with a great sense of confidence, having eliminated reigning WAFCON champion Nigeria in the quarterfinals.

Appearing at a record 8th WAFCON, she will be sure to leave it all on the pitch as she seeks to cap an illustrious 16-year career with a winner’s medal. 

The Central African giants’ semi-final berth is their best WAFCON performance since their 3rd place finish in 2018. Onguéné and co will be quietly optimistic of their chances as they draw confidence from beating Morocco 1–0 in a friendly in April 2025 – a winner scored by the forward herself. 

“I've played in many Women's Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, but there is still something missing,” she told CAF.  “That feeling is what keeps me going. I want to try one more time and see if we can achieve something great.” 

She and all supporters of the Indomitable Lionesses will hope her dream comes true. Perhaps the 8th time could be the charm. 

History in defeat

Tanzania and Cabo Verde might be eliminated, but they made sure to leave their mark in the history of WAFCON. 

Tanzania set the tone for the tournament with their shock victory over South Africa in the opening round of fixtures. They would eventually fall short after losses to Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, but their first-ever WAFCON victory was seismic, nonetheless. 

Cabo Verde, meanwhile, left their maiden WAFCON with a solitary but historic point.

Given that their national team was established only in 2018, it was easy to understand what it meant to them when Eleia Viera won player of the match in their last game against Cameroon. 

History doesn't always look like lifting a trophy. Sometimes it looks like the first point.