Black Queens Face Twiga Stars in Final Tune-Up as WAFCON 2026 Beckons

CASABLANCA, Morocco – The countdown to the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) enters its final stage today as Ghana's Black Queens take on Tanzania's Twiga Stars in an international friendly in Casablanca, offering both sides a crucial opportunity to fine-tune their preparations before Africa's biggest women's football tournament kicks off.https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da4yZbWKWWF/?igsh=MXRyeW42Mmhzb2F6Yw==

The friendly comes just days before the start of WAFCON 2026, which will be staged in Morocco from 26 July to 16 August, bringing together the continent's 16 best national teams in a championship expected to showcase the rapid growth of women's football across Africa.

For Ghana and Tanzania, the encounter is far more than a routine warm-up. It presents an opportunity for the coaching staff to assess tactical systems, evaluate player fitness, build team chemistry and identify their strongest starting line-ups before the competition officially begins.

Morocco Hosts Historic Third Consecutive Tournament

Morocco will make history by becoming the first nation to host three consecutive editions of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. The tournament will be played across four venues located in the cities of Casablanca, Rabat and Fez, providing world-class facilities for the continent's premier women's football championship.

The North African nation has established itself as a major destination for African football after successfully organizing previous editions and investing heavily in football infrastructure, women's football development and stadium modernization.

Expanded Tournament Brings New Opportunities

WAFCON 2026 marks a significant milestone in the competition's evolution following the Confederation of African Football's decision to expand the tournament from 12 to 16 teams.

The expansion reflects the remarkable progress made by women's football across Africa and provides more nations with the opportunity to compete at the highest continental level.

Qualification, held between February and October 2025, determined the participating teams, with host nation Morocco qualifying automatically.

The expanded format has also opened the door for first-time participants Cape Verde and Malawi, whose qualification highlights the growing competitiveness of women's football throughout the continent.

The larger tournament is expected to deliver more matches, greater exposure for emerging talent and increased opportunities for players to perform on the continental stage.

Road to the FIFA Women's World Cup

Beyond continental glory, WAFCON 2026 carries even greater significance as it serves as Africa's qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.

The stakes are exceptionally high, with the top four teams earning automatic qualification for the global showpiece.

In addition, the teams finishing just outside the automatic qualification places will secure spots in the FIFA inter-confederation play-offs, offering another pathway to the World Cup.

The qualification format ensures every match in Morocco will have enormous importance, with national pride and World Cup dreams hanging in the balance.

Nigeria Aim to Defend Their Crown

Nine-time champions Nigeria enter the tournament as defending champions after producing a dramatic comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the 2024 final played in Rabat.

The Super Falcons remain one of Africa's strongest women's football nations and will once again be among the favourites to lift the trophy.

However, competition is expected to be fiercer than ever, with Morocco seeking to capitalize on home advantage, while traditional powers including South Africa, Ghana, Zambia and Cameroon will also be determined to challenge for continental supremacy.

Black Queens Seek Strong Return

For Ghana, the tournament represents another opportunity to reaffirm their place among Africa's elite women's football nations. The Black Queens have enjoyed a rich history in African women's football and will be eager to translate their experience into a successful campaign in Morocco.

Today's friendly against Tanzania provides the technical team with a valuable platform to evaluate tactical flexibility, defensive organization, attacking combinations and overall squad readiness before the tournament begins.

The match is also expected to give several players the chance to impress and stake their claim for regular starting positions.

Twiga Stars Eye Positive Momentum

Tanzania's women's national team, popularly known as the Twiga Stars—"Twiga" being the Swahili word for giraffe—will equally view the friendly as an important test against quality opposition.

The East Africans have made encouraging strides in recent years and will be hoping to build confidence and momentum before embarking on their WAFCON journey.

Facing an experienced side like Ghana offers valuable insight into areas requiring improvement while allowing the coaching staff to assess their squad under competitive conditions.

Final Preparations Before Kick-Off

As excitement builds across the continent, today's friendly in Casablanca symbolizes the final phase of preparation before Africa's finest women's footballers take centre stage.

With expanded participation, World Cup qualification at stake and growing investment in the women's game, WAFCON 2026 promises to be one of the most competitive and significant editions in the tournament's history.

For both the Black Queens and the Twiga Stars, the focus today will be on sharpening performances, building confidence and entering the tournament with positive momentum as they pursue success on Africa's biggest women's football stage.