Malawi and Cape Verde have secured their first-ever appearances at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) after impressive performances in the qualifying rounds. Malawi’s national team, known as the Scorchers, triumphed over Angola with a 2-0 aggregate victory, thanks to midfielder Faith Chinzimu’s decisive goals in the second leg. Cape Verde staged a remarkable comeback against Mali, overturning a first-leg deficit to win 4-3 on aggregate. This achievement marks a significant milestone for both nations, particularly for Cape Verde, whose men’s team recently qualified for the World Cup. Reigning champions Nigeria also advanced, defending their title after a 3-1 aggregate win against Benin. Other teams, including Kenya, Burkina Faso, and South Africa, have also secured their spots in the tournament. With the expansion of Wafcon from 12 to 16 teams, the competition promises greater exposure for emerging football nations. The final four spots will be determined from the 11 losing teams of the second round, as per the Confederation of African Football’s (Caf) decision. The tournament, hosted by Morocco, is tentatively scheduled for March 17 to April 3, 2026.