The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) begins in Morocco on Sunday, with teams competing for qualification to the Women’s World Cup and a record first prize of $2 million. Across the tournament, a total of 16 nations take part, expanded from 12 at the previous edition. Nigeria, a 10-time WAFCON champion and the defending champions, is presented by multiple outlets as the team to beat. The articles note that the competition offers participating teams a direct pathway to World Cup participation through WAFCON results. With the larger field and higher prize money, the event is positioned as a major continental tournament for African women’s football. Coverage emphasizes both the sporting stakes—securing a World Cup slot—and the financial incentive, including the record first-place payout. The outlets do not cite any specific match outcomes, but they frame the opening tournament as a contest in which Nigeria enters as a favourite as WAFCON 2026 gets underway.