Rabat – The Confederation of African Football has doubled the prize money for the winner of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to $2 million, days before the tournament begins in Morocco.
The new amount represents a 100% increase from the $1 million awarded to the champion of the previous edition.
CAF has also raised the tournament’s overall prize fund by 67%, from $3.475 million to $5.8 million.
The runner-up will receive $750,000, representing a 50% increase from the previous payment of $500,000.
The prize awarded to the third-placed team has also increased by 43%.
Every participating team guaranteed $150,000
CAF has increased the participation payment given to each of the 16 national teams competing in Morocco.
Every participating federation will receive $150,000, compared with $125,000 in the previous edition, representing a 20% increase.
The guaranteed payment is intended to support national associations with preparation, travel, accommodation and other tournament-related expenses.
Teams advancing through the knockout stages will receive additional prize money based on their final position.
CAF said the winner’s prize has increased from $200,000 to $2 million under the current leadership, representing a rise of 900%.
The total competition fund has also increased from $975,000 to $5.8 million during the same period.
Historic 16-Team tournament
The 2026 edition will be the largest Women’s AFCON in the competition’s history, with 16 national teams divided into four groups.
The tournament previously featured 12 teams, while earlier editions included eight participants.
The competition will take place in Rabat and Casablanca from July 26 to August 16.
Matches will be staged across several venues, including Moulay El Hassan Stadium, the Olympic Stadium and Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, as well as Larbi Zaouli Stadium and Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca.
Morocco will compete in Group A alongside Algeria, Senegal and Kenya.
The Atlas Lionesses will begin their campaign against Kenya on July 26 at 9 p.m. at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
Defending champions Nigeria are in Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt and Malawi.
Group B includes South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Tanzania, while Ghana, Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde make up Group D.
Morocco seek first continental Title
Morocco will enter the tournament seeking its first Women’s AFCON title after finishing runners-up in the previous two editions.
The Atlas Lionesses lost the 2022 final to South Africa before suffering another defeat against Nigeria in the following edition.
The host nation will now attempt to turn two consecutive runner-up finishes into a first continental crown in front of its supporters.
The tournament will also determine Africa’s representatives at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The four Women’s AFCON semi-finalists will qualify directly, while the defeated quarter-finalists will compete for places in the inter-confederation play-offs.
The larger prize fund, expanded field and World Cup qualification opportunities make the 2026 tournament an important step in CAF’s efforts to strengthen women’s football across Africa.
