By Angu Lesley Ngwa Akonwi
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses have been handed an unexpected lifeline after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed an expansion of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) from 12 to 16 teams, starting with the 2026 edition.
In an official communiqué dated 3 November 2025, CAF stated that the Executive Committee had “approved the enlargement of the Coupe d’Afrique des Nations Féminine (WAFCON) from 12 to 16 teams, beginning with the next edition in 2026.”
The decision comes after the qualification process had already concluded under the previous format, leaving some traditional powerhouses like Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Egypt out of contention. To ensure fairness, CAF decided that “the four best-ranked teams according to the current FIFA Women’s World Ranking, among those eliminated in the final qualifying round, will be selected to complete the list of 16 participating teams.”
As a result, Cameroon (ranked 66th globally), Côte d’Ivoire (71st), Mali (79th) and Egypt (95th) have been granted qualification to join the 12 nations that booked their spots on the field.
The move brings relief to the Indomitable Lionesses, who had suffered a 3–1 aggregate defeat to Algeria in their final qualifying tie — a loss that initially marked a second straight failure to reach the continental finals.
This expansion not only preserves Cameroon’s proud record of participation at the top level but also aligns with CAF’s broader vision to enhance competitiveness and inclusivity in women’s football across Africa.
Copyright©2025 kick442.com-Cameroon
All rights reserved. This material and any other digital content on this platform may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, written, or distributed in full or in part, without written permission from our management.
This site is not responsible for the content displayed by external sites
English 
French