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When WAFCON 2026 begins in Morocco, 16 national teams will arrive dreaming of continental glory. Only one will leave with the trophy, but throughout the competition, individual brilliance will produce new heroes, unforgettable goals and stories that extend beyond the final whistle.
The expanded WAFCON 2026 tournament will also welcome several teams eager to disrupt the established order, including Malawi, which is making its first appearance in the competition.
Below are 10 stars to watch out for in this tournament
1. Rasheedat Ajibade – Nigeria
Some players influence a match with a goal. Rasheedat Ajibade can influence every part of it.
The Super Falcons captain enters WAFCON 2026 as the emotional and tactical heartbeat of the defending champions. Her speed allows her to stretch defenses, her creativity helps Nigeria open crowded spaces, and her work rate makes her valuable even when the ball is elsewhere.
Ajibade was named Player of the Tournament after helping Nigeria win the previous edition. That achievement confirmed what Nigerian supporters had understood for years: When the pressure rises, Ajibade rarely disappears.
She can operate across the front line, create opportunities for teammates and produce decisive moments herself. More importantly, she carries the responsibility of leading the most successful team in WAFCON history.
Nigeria will have no shortage of talent in Morocco, but its pursuit of another title may depend on how effectively Ajibade turns expectation into inspiration.
2. Chiamaka Nnadozie – Nigeria
Behind Nigeria’s attacking talent stands one of the most imposing goalkeepers in African football.
Chiamaka Nnadozie has built her reputation through sharp reflexes, brave decision-making and an ability to remain composed when matches become chaotic. She commands her penalty area with authority and gives the defenders ahead of her the confidence to play aggressively.
Tournament football is often decided by the smallest margins. One save can preserve a lead, force extra time or change the emotional direction of a knockout match. Nnadozie has repeatedly demonstrated she can make that save.
Nigeria’s forwards may attract the loudest celebrations, but Nnadozie could become the player who quietly keeps its championship defense alive.
3. Barbra Banda – Zambia
There are few sights in women’s football more frightening for a defender than Barbra Banda accelerating toward goal.
The Copper Queens captain combines physical strength, explosive speed and sharp finishing. She does not need several opportunities to make an impact. A loose pass, a moment of hesitation or a small opening near the penalty area may be all she requires.
Banda scored three goals during the group stage of the previous WAFCON edition and remains central to Zambia’s ambition of winning its first continental championship. She has also proved herself on international and club stages, establishing a reputation as one of the most tactical forwards in the game.
Zambia has moved beyond merely hoping to compete with Africa’s strongest teams. With Banda leading the attack, the Copper Queens will believe they can defeat any opponent in Morocco.
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4. Racheal Kundananji – Zambia
Stopping one world-class striker is difficult. Zambia asks opposing defenses to deal with two.
Racheal Kundananji gives the Copper Queens another powerful attacking weapon alongside Banda. Her pace, direct running and ability to finish from difficult positions make Zambia especially dangerous during transitions.
Kundananji scored three times during the group stage of the previous tournament and was selected for CAF’s group-stage Best XI alongside Banda. The pair’s understanding allows them to exchange roles, attack different spaces and punish defenders who focus too heavily on one player.
Banda may draw the initial wave of attention, but Kundananji is often waiting to exploit the space the attention creates. Together, they form one of the most exciting partnerships at WAFCON 2026.
5. Ghizlane Chebbak – Morocco
When Morocco needs calm in the middle of a storm, it turns to Ghizlane Chebbak.
The experienced midfielder plays with the composure of someone who sees possibilities before they become visible to everyone else. Her passing, movement and set-piece delivery allow Morocco to control the tempo of matches and unlock disciplined defenses.
Chebbak finished as the leading scorer at the previous WAFCON with five goals. She has also been named the tournament’s best player in the past, reflecting her ability to combine creativity with decisive production. Playing on home soil will bring enormous support, but it will also bring pressure. Morocco came painfully close to winning the championship in the previous edition before surrendering a two-goal lead against Nigeria in the final.
Chebbak now has another opportunity to guide the Atlas Lionesses toward the trophy that has so far escaped them.
6. Thembi Kgatlana – South Africa
Thembi Kgatlana plays as though every patch of open grass is an invitation.
The South African forward is known for her speed, intelligent movement and fearlessness in one-on-one situations. Once she begins running behind a defense, stopping her without conceding space elsewhere becomes extremely difficult.
Kgatlana has already left a major mark on the competition. She was named WAFCON’s best player and leading scorer in 2018 before receiving the African Women’s Player of the Year award.
South Africa no longer enters major tournaments as an outsider. Banyana Banyana won the continental title in 2022 and reached the semifinals of the following edition. That success has raised expectations, and Kgatlana remains one of the players most capable of delivering when those expectations become pressure.
7. Temwa Chawinga – Malawi
Malawi will make its WAFCON debut in 2026, but Temwa Chawinga will not arrive as an unknown.
The prolific forward has become one of the most recognizable Malawian players in world football. Her pace, relentless movement and finishing have made her a threat wherever she has played. Malawi faces a demanding introduction to the competition after being drawn alongside defending champion Nigeria, Zambia and Egypt. For a debutant, the challenge could hardly be greater.
Yet that difficult group also gives Chawinga the perfect platform to introduce the Scorchers to a global audience.
Malawi may be new to WAFCON, but Chawinga possesses the quality to make the country’s first appearance memorable. One goal against an established power could become a defining moment in Malawian football history.
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8. Portia Boakye – Ghana
Successful tournament teams need more than goals. They need players who can recognize danger, restore order and steady their teammates when momentum begins to shift. For Ghana, Portia Boakye provides that experience.
The versatile defender played an important role as the Black Queens reached the semifinals of the previous tournament and was subsequently selected for CAF’s WAFCON Best XI. Boakye brings composure, tactical awareness and leadership to Ghana’s back line. Her ability to read developing attacks will be vital against opponents equipped with some of the fastest forwards in African football.
Ghana’s return to the latter stages of WAFCON restored belief around the Black Queens. To build upon that progress, they will need Boakye to lead a defense capable of surviving the tournament’s most demanding moments.
9. Mama Diop – Senegal
Senegal does not intend to arrive quietly, and Mama Diop gives the Lionesses a forward capable of making their presence felt. She uses intelligent movement, physical strength and aerial ability to unsettle defenders. She scored twice during the previous tournament and consistently provided Senegal with a target in dangerous areas.
The Lionesses have developed into an increasingly competitive side, reaching the quarterfinals of the last two editions. The next challenge is to move beyond that stage and establish Senegal as one of the continent’s leading teams.
Diop will be central to that effort. In knockout football, opportunities may be limited, and Senegal will need a forward prepared to turn a single cross, rebound or defensive mistake into a goal.
10. Chloé N’Gazi – Algeria
Algeria’s historic run to the quarterfinals of the previous WAFCON was built upon organization, discipline and an outstanding goalkeeper.
Chloé N’Gazi recorded three clean sheets during the group stage and was named the best goalkeeper in CAF’s group-stage Best XI. Her saves helped Algeria advance to the knockout rounds for the first time without conceding a group-stage goal.
That breakthrough changed expectations around the Green Ladies.
Algeria will no longer be viewed simply as a team hoping to survive. Opponents will recognize that breaking down its defense requires patience and that even a well-created opportunity may still be stopped by N’Gazi.
The established stars will enter WAFCON 2026 carrying reputations built through domestic leagues, international tournaments and historic performances. Yet the beauty of the competition lies in its unpredictability.
A young player could announce herself with a spectacular goal. A goalkeeper could become a national hero during a penalty shootout. A debutant could defeat a former champion, while an overlooked team could transform three weeks in Morocco into the greatest chapter in its football history.
Nigeria begins as the defending champion and the standard every challenger wants to reach. Morocco returns with home support and unfinished business. Zambia possesses perhaps the tournament’s most explosive attack, while South Africa brings championship experience. Ghana, Senegal and Algeria have already demonstrated that Africa’s traditional hierarchy can be challenged.
Then there is Malawi, entering the competition for the first time with nothing to lose and history waiting to be written. Let the game begin.
Victoria Ezechukwu-Nwagwu is an Associate Editor at FunTimes Magazine with a strong background in media, strategic communications, and editorial leadership. She brings a thoughtful, detail-driven approach to storytelling, content development, and collaboration, ensuring high editorial standards.
She plays a key role in shaping impactful narratives and driving creative innovation across the publication.
