African women's football isn't just "on the rise" anymore. Honestly, that's a lazy narrative. It’s already here, and if you watched the last Coupe d’Afrique des Nations Féminine (WAFCON), you know exactly what I’m talking about. We saw records shattered. We saw sold-out stadiums in Casablanca and Rabat. Most importantly, we saw a tactical evolution that finally killed the myth that the women’s game in Africa is just about physical strength.
The tournament has transformed from a predictable Nigerian victory lap into a chaotic, beautiful, and highly technical battlefield.
The Nigeria Monopoly is Dead (And That’s Good)
For decades, the story of the Coupe d’Afrique des Nations Féminine was basically "Nigeria wins, everyone else tries their best." The Super Falcons have eleven titles. Eleven. That’s not a rivalry; that’s a kingdom. But look at the 2022 edition in Morocco. South Africa’s Banyana Banyana finally climbed the mountain, beating the hosts in a final that felt like a shift in the tectonic plates of the sport.
Desiree Ellis, the South African coach, didn't just stumble into that win. She spent years building a system based on technical proficiency and quick transitions. It wasn't a fluke. When Nigeria fell to Morocco in the semi-finals—playing with nine players for a huge chunk of the match in front of 45,000 screaming fans—it signaled that the gap had closed. The intimidation factor is gone. Teams like Zambia and Botswana aren't showing up to collect jerseys anymore; they're showing up to take points.
The sheer unpredictability is what makes it worth watching now. You've got tactical masters like Morocco's Reynald Pedros (who brought that Lyon DNA) proving that investment in high-level coaching changes everything. It’s no longer just about who has the fastest sprinters. It's about who understands the half-spaces and the low block.
Money, Marketing, and the "Morocco Blueprint"
Let’s be real for a second. In the past, the Coupe d’Afrique des Nations Féminine felt like an afterthought for CAF. The pitches were sometimes questionable. The TV production was "meh." But Morocco changed the game. They showed that if you treat the women's tournament like a premier global event, the fans will show up.
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They didn't just host; they marketed.
The 2022 tournament saw a massive jump in prize money. We’re talking a 150% increase, with the winners taking home $500,000. Is it enough? Kinda. Is it a start? Absolutely. When you pay players and associations, the level of preparation goes up. Suddenly, teams are having proper training camps in Europe or the Middle East instead of just meeting a week before the flight.
What most people get wrong is thinking this growth is organic. It’s not. It’s intentional. The "Morocco Blueprint" involved building dedicated academies and ensuring the domestic league was professionalized. You can’t have a world-class national team if your local players are playing on gravel. That’s the hard truth.
Why Technical Skill is Replacing Raw Power
If you haven't watched a match recently, you might expect a lot of long balls. You'd be wrong. The modern WAFCON is a showcase of incredible individual skill. Think about Ghizlane Chebbak. Her vision and ball control are elite by any global standard. Or look at Barbra Banda from Zambia—she’s a nightmare for defenders because she’s as smart as she is fast.
The coaching has improved because the world is watching. Scouts from the NWSL in America and the WSL in England are now permanent fixtures at these matches. They aren't just looking for "athletes" anymore. They are looking for the next Asisat Oshoala, someone who can lead a line and manipulate a defense.
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This professionalization has a trickle-down effect. When a young girl in Bamako or Nairobi sees Rasheedat Ajibade playing for Atlético Madrid, the Coupe d’Afrique des Nations Féminine stops being a dream and starts being a career path.
The Struggles We Don't Talk About Enough
It’s not all sunshine and sold-out stadiums, though. We have to talk about the qualifying rounds. While the main tournament is a glitzy affair, the preliminary rounds are often a mess of travel nightmares and lack of funding. Some teams still withdraw because they can't afford the flights. That's a tragedy for the sport.
There’s also the issue of the "missing" stars. Because the tournament hasn't always aligned perfectly with the FIFA calendar, European clubs and African federations have had some nasty tug-of-wars over players. It puts the athletes in an impossible position. Choose your country and risk your paycheck, or stay with your club and be labeled a traitor. We need better synergy there, period.
Also, internal federations in several countries still prioritize the men’s U-17 team over the senior women’s team. That’s just factual. Until the budget lines are actually equitable, the Coupe d’Afrique des Nations Féminine will be fighting with one hand tied behind its back.
What’s Next for the Competition?
The 2024/2025 cycle is the most anticipated in history. Morocco is hosting again, which is a smart move for stability, even if some people wanted to see it move elsewhere. They have the infrastructure. They have the fans.
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We are seeing a rise in "Tier 2" nations. Keep an eye on Senegal. Their growth has been explosive. They play a very disciplined, physical style that frustrates the traditional giants. Also, don't sleep on Ethiopia or Uganda. The East African block is finally starting to invest in the tactical side of the game, and it’s going to lead to some massive upsets in the coming years.
The expansion to 12 teams was a masterstroke. It allowed more stories to be told. More stories means more eyeballs, which means more sponsors like TotalEnergies and Visa sticking around.
How to Follow the Game Like an Expert
If you actually want to understand what's happening in the Coupe d’Afrique des Nations Féminine, stop just looking at the scores on Google.
- Watch the full matches: Highlights don't show you the defensive shape of a team like South Africa. You need to see how they move without the ball.
- Follow African journalists: People like Mimi Fawaz or Osasu Obayiuwana provide context you won't get from mainstream Western outlets. They know the politics and the personalities.
- Track the domestic leagues: Keep an eye on the CAF Women's Champions League. It’s basically a preview of the WAFCON. If a club from Ghana is doing well, you can bet the Ghanaian national team is about to make a run.
- Check the FIFA Rankings (with a grain of salt): They don't always reflect the "on-the-ground" reality because of how few friendlies some African teams play, but they give you a baseline of who is consistently performing.
The reality is that the Coupe d’Afrique des Nations Féminine is the most exciting football tournament on the continent right now. The men’s game is great, but the women’s game is where the most radical growth is happening. It’s raw, it’s passionate, and it’s finally being televised with the quality it deserves.
Next time the tournament kicks off, don't just tune in for the final. Watch the group stages. Watch the tactical chess match between the North African technical style and the West African power game. You’ll see a version of football that is pure, high-stakes, and deeply important to the future of the global game.
The days of this being a "hidden gem" are over. It’s just a gem now.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Support Local Leagues: The strength of the WAFCON depends entirely on the professionalization of leagues like the NWFL in Nigeria or the Hollywoodbets Super League in South Africa.
- Demand Better Coverage: Use social media to tag sports networks. Visibility is the primary driver of the sponsorship dollars that pay for better VAR, better pitches, and better travel for players.
- Study the Tactical Shift: Focus on the transition from 4-4-2 "kick and rush" to the 4-3-3 and 3-5-2 formations being adopted by teams like Morocco and Zambia to see how the game is being won in the midfield.