Banyana Banyana face Tough WAFCON 2026 Groups B as African Giants Target World Cup Qualification

The final draw for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has placed Banyana Banyana in Group B alongside the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania. The tournament begins on 17 March 2026 in Morocco.

Following their fourth-place finish last year, the 2022 champions aim to reach the final and repeat their success from four years ago. South Africa and their opponents will also be based in the capital, Rabat, and will use the Al Madina Stadium.

Banyana Banyana Lay a Marker with Clinical 2-0 Win Over Morocco

From the gsport Newsroom Archives, December 2025

Meanwhile, defending champions Nigeria are placed in a tough Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt, and debutantes Malawi. Record 10-time African champions, the Super Falcons, will be hoping to defend their title once again but face a tricky set of fixtures in the pool phase. Group C will be based in Casablanca, with matches to be played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium.

Nigeria were crowned African champions at the last TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2024 when they defeated the hosts 3–2 in the final last July.

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Hosts Morocco will also be based in Rabat and head Group A, which also includes Algeria, Senegal, and Kenya. Their matches will be held at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium.

Finally, Group D will be based in Fes and features Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, and debutantes Cape Verde.

The top two sides in each group will advance to the quarter-finals, and the four teams that reach the semi-finals will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.

South Africa's Casandra Alexander has won the Wistron Ladies Open by three strokes on 21-under-par, closing with a final round of 64 to claim her third Ladies European Tour title of 2026 and clinch the LET Order of Merit with two events remaining, at the Sunrise Golf and Country Club in Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei on Sunday, 1 November 2026. All Photos: LET / Maria Beautell

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It is not the end of the road for the quarter-final losers, however, as they will play in a set of matches to determine which two African teams will enter the inter-confederation play-offs for a place at the World Cup.

Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 Final Draw

Group A (Rabat, Moulay Hassan Stadium)

Morocco
Algeria
Senegal
Kenya

Group B (Rabat, Al Madina Stadium)

South Africa
Ivory Coast
Burkina Faso
Tanzania

Group C (Casablanca)

Nigeria
Zambia
Egypt
Malawi

Group D (Fes)

Ghana
Cameroon
Mali
Cape Verde

Main Photo Caption: Reliving that moment when the senior South African women’s football team beat Morocco in an international friendly, early in December last year. The final draw for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has placed Banyana Banyana in Group B alongside the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania. The tournament begins on 17 March 2026 in Morocco. File Photo: SAFA

Tags: African Women’s Football, Al Madina Stadium, Algeria, Brand South Africa, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Casablanca, Department of Sport Arts and Culture, DSAC, Egypt, Fes, Final Draw, Football, Ghana, Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, gsport, gsport Newsroom, gsport4girls, International Women’s Football, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Moulay Hassan Stadium, Nigeria, Professional Women’s Football, Rabat, SABC, SABC Sport, Senegal, soccer, South Africa, Tanzania, Telkom, Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026, Women’s Football, Zambia

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