The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations offered three weeks of competitive football, unexpected results, emerging teams, and memorable individual performances.

The tournament provided valuable evidence of how the women’s game is developing across the continent. From the expanded 16-team format to the rise of new contenders, several lessons stood out from the competition.

A Bigger Tournament Created More Opportunities

Expanding the competition to 16 teams gave more national sides an opportunity to experience high-level football. The larger format also created additional matches against strong opponents, providing valuable competitive experience for players and coaching staffs.

Cameroon benefited particularly from the expanded structure after entering the tournament through ranking criteria and eventually winning the championship. Malawi also demonstrated how additional opportunities can produce unexpected breakthroughs, reaching the final after defeating several established teams.

The Gap Between Teams Is Becoming Smaller

One of the clearest features of the 2026 tournament was its competitiveness. Tanzania produced a major surprise by defeating defending champions South Africa during the group stage, while Malawi defeated Nigeria in its opening match before continuing its impressive run.

The tournament also produced 90 goals across 32 matches, averaging 2.81 goals per game. That represented an increase from the 2.54-goal average recorded during the 2024 edition.

Such results demonstrate that established teams can no longer assume straightforward matches against emerging opponents. Greater competitiveness can raise the standard of preparation, tactics, fitness, and squad development.

Malawi Became One of the Tournament’s Stories

Malawi's run to the final was one of the most striking developments of the competition. The team defeated Nigeria, Ghana, and Algeria on its route to the championship match.

Temwa Chawinga played a major role in that campaign, finishing as the tournament's leading scorer with five goals and two assists. Her contribution highlighted the importance of individual attacking quality within a team that exceeded expectations. The performance also showed how quickly a developing team can gain attention when strong individual talent is supported by effective teamwork.

Female Coaches Continue to Make Their Mark

Cameroon coach Valentine Nguele became the fifth woman to guide a team to the Wafcon title. Her achievement was particularly notable because she had taken charge only shortly before the tournament.

The coaching staff had limited preparation time, yet the team developed enough cohesion to complete the competition as champions. The achievement adds another example of women succeeding in senior coaching positions within African football.

Match Experience Remains Essential

The tournament demonstrated the value of giving national teams more opportunities to compete at a high level. Strong performances from emerging sides cannot be built entirely through training sessions; competitive matches provide different pressures and tactical challenges.

A larger Wafcon field can therefore contribute to player development by exposing more athletes to demanding matches. Over time, that experience can strengthen national squads and provide coaches with a deeper pool of tested players.

More Than Results Matter

The competition also showed areas where tournament organizers can improve the overall spectator experience. Attendance remained a concern at several matches, particularly games that did not involve the host side. The source also noted lengthy video assistant referee reviews during some matches.

Wafcon 2026 demonstrated that women’s football continues to develop through broader participation, stronger competition, emerging talent, and increased coaching opportunities. The success of Cameroon, Malawi’s unexpected run, and the number of competitive matches all showed the value of creating more opportunities at the highest level. The tournament also offered practical lessons about improving the spectator experience and building an environment where more teams can continue to develop.