The much-anticipated 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will begin in Morocco on Saturday, 5 July, with 12 teams battling to become champions.
Fans are assured top-class football when the tournament gets underway at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, where hosts Morocco will take on Zambia in the opening game (9pm WAT).
The tournament, which is being hosted in the North African nation for a second straight year, has holders South Africa and nine-time African champions Nigeria in attendance, while the other 10 teams have yet to lift the title.
With all the teams rearing to go in the 15th edition of the WAFCON, Afrosport serves up all the juicy details of the tournament, including the groups, venues, schedules and key players to watch out for.
The #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 is taking over your July. 🤩
Circle the dates. It’s our time. 🗓 pic.twitter.com/hlS2cY3yMW
— CAF Women’s Football (@CAFwomen) July 1, 2025
How many groups are in the tournament?
The 12 qualified teams in the 2024 WAFCON have been drawn into three groups of four teams each, with Morocco securing a spot in the tournament as hosts.
The Atlas Lionesses, finalists in the last edition in 2022, are grouped in Group A, and will battle Zambia in a rematch of their 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers which the Copper Queens won.
Morocco will also take on Senegal and DR Congo – two teams in the top 15 ranking on the continent.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons, the tournament’s most successful team, who are looking to win their 10th title and first since 2018 are drawn in Group B.
Justine Madugu’s side will face Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana in the group stages.
Meanwhile, Group C has defending champions South Africa take on Ghana and Mali, who are both making their first appearance in the competition since 2018, and a Tanzania side making their second appearance.
WAFCON 2024 Groups
Group A: Morocco, Zambia, Senegal, DR Congo.
Group B: Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana.
Group C: South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania.
Where will the matches be played?
Morocco, the first nation to host back-to-back- WAFCON tournaments, have chosen to six stadiums in five venues for this year’s edition.
The cities of Rabat, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Oujda and Berkane will play host to the participating teams. Each city has one stadium apiece, with Casablanca the only one with two grounds.
- Olympic Stadium, Rabat (capacity 21,000)
- El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia (capacity 15,000)
- Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca (capacity 30,000)
- Pere Jego Stadium, Casablanca (capacity 10,000)
- Honneur Stadium, Oujda (capacity 19,800)
- Berkane Stadium, Berkane (capacity 15,000)
What happens in the next round?
Eight teams will progress into the knockout phase from the group stages. The top two teams in each group will be joined by the two best-ranked third-placed teams in the quarter-finals.
One match will be played on the opening day on 5 July, while two games will be played every day until the group stage ends on 14 July.
Who are the stars to watch out for?
The WAFCON in Morocco will be filled with some of Africa’s best players as well as emerging stars as the women’s game continues to grow on the continent.
The tournament also promises a mix of experience and youth, and some of the players that should catch the eye are:
Barbra Banda (Zambia) – The US-based star, who has broken numerous national and continental records, is undoubtedly the most talked-about forward in African football and the reigning African Player of the Year.
She led Orlando Pride to the National Women’s Super League (NSWL) title and was named the NSWL Most Valuable Player and nominated for the Ballon d’Or as well as being voted the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year.
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria) – The 24-year-old goalkeeper is the reigning number one shot-stopper in Africa, having been named the African best goalkeeper at the last two CAF (Confederation of African Football) Awards.
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria) – Africa’s most decorated women’s player, Oshoala, has won the African Player of the Year award a record six times, and she makes a return to the Super Falcons setupin search of her fourth WAFCON title.
Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco) – The experienced Moroccan starred at the last edition, finishing as joint top scorer and winning the Player of the Tournament award. The 34-year-old is the most capped player in Morocco’s history and will be hoping to lead the Atlas Lionesses over the finishing line this time around.
Hildah Magaia (South Africa) – The 30-year-old led Banyana Banyana to the title in Morocco in 2022, scoring both goals in their 2-1 win in the final. She bagged three goals in the tournament to finish as joint top scorer.
What does the group stage schedule look like?
All kick-off times are in WAT.
Saturday 5 July
Group A: Morocco vs Zambia, Olympic Stadium, Rabat (21:00)
Sunday 6 July
Group A: Senegal vs Ivory Coast, El Bachir Stadium, Mohammedia (15:00)
Group B: Nigeria vs Tunisia, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca (17:00)
Group B: Algeria vs Botswana, Pere Jego Stadium, Casablanca (20:00)
Monday 7 July
Group C: South Africa vs Ghana, Honneur Stadium, Oujda (17:00)
Group C: Mali vs Tanzania, Berkane Stadium, Berkane (20:00)
Wednesday 9 July
Group A: Zambia vs Senegal, Mohammedia (17:00)
Group A: DR Congo vs Morocco, Rabat (20:00)
Thursday 10 July
Group B: Botswana vs Nigeria, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca (17:00)
Group B: Tunisia vs Algeria, Pere Jego Stadium, Casablanca (20:00)
Friday 11 July
Group C: Ghana vs Mali, Berkane (17:00)
Group C: Tanzania vs South Africa, Oujda (20:00)
Saturday 12 July
Group A: Morocco vs Senegal, Rabat (20:00)
Group A: Zambia vs DR Congo, Mohammedia (20:00)
Sunday 13 July
Group B: Nigeria vs Algeria, Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca (20:00)
Group B: Tunisia vs Botswana, Pere Jego Stadium, Casablanca (20:00)
Monday 14 July
Group C: South Africa vs Mali, Oujda (20:00)
Group C: Ghana vs Tanzania, Berkane (20:00)
