As the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 approaches in South Africa, the stage is set for another electrifying chapter in African women’s football. Last edition’s final was a 3–2 thriller as defending champions Nigeria edged the hosts Morocco to lift the continental crown in a dramatic showdown.
With qualifiers complete and 12 nations officially booking their slots, including debutants like Malawi and Cape Verde, eyes are turning to the individuals capable of defining the tournament’s biggest moments.
From lethal goal-getters to commanding leaders and rising stars, here are the top African female footballers to watch in the stands or on television in WAFCON 2026.
10. Zainah Nandede (Uganda – Forward)
Nandede has earned over 15 caps for Uganda and won two national league titles at the club level.
A composed finisher with sharp movement inside the box, she offers Uganda a reliable scoring outlet in tight tournament matches.
If Uganda is to progress beyond the group stage, Nandede’s finishing may prove decisive at WAFCON 2026.
9. Stella Nyamekye (Ghana – Midfielder)
Stella Nyamekye combines leadership and long-term vision.
Named captain of Ghana’s side by coach Yusif Basigi, she previously scored four goals in Ghana’s 2023 WAFU Zone B U-20 Women’s Cup triumph, demonstrating attacking threat from midfield.
Remarkably, she earned her CAF License D coaching badge at just 16 years old while playing for Ghana’s under-17 side, the Black Maidens. An aspiring coach, she reads the game with unusual maturity.
Her composure and positional awareness make her central to Ghana’s midfield structure heading into WAFCON 2026.
8. Aisha Masaka (Tanzania – Forward)
Aisha Masaka continues to break barriers for Tanzanian football. She became the first Tanzanian to play in the Women’s Super League and the first to feature in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. She also helped BK Häcken secure second-place finishes in the Swedish Damallsvenskan in consecutive seasons.
Earlier in her career, she scored an extraordinary 35 goals in 20 matches for Young Africans in 2020/21, showcasing her natural finishing instinct.
Internationally, she has earned 15 senior caps and scored nine goals for Tanzania, including finishing as top scorer in the 2020 U17 COSAFA Cup. In 2024, she was named Best Female Tanzanian Player Abroad.
Off the pitch, she founded the AKM Foundation, promoting gender equality and fighting poverty through sport.
Her pace and attacking intelligence make her a potential breakout star at WAFCON 2026.
7. Michelle Alozie (Nigeria – Defender / Wing-Back)
Michelle Alozie blends defensive discipline with attacking ambition.
She played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s 2025 WAFCON triumph, earning a place in the Team of the Tournament (Best XI). She has represented Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2024 Paris Olympics, and WAFCON 2025, building elite tournament experience.
In recognition of her contribution, she was conferred the national honor of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 2025, alongside monetary and residential awards from the Nigerian government.
At the club level, she established herself as a key defender after signing with Houston Dash in 2021, before being traded to Chicago Stars FC in late 2025.
Comfortable stepping into midfield and recovering quickly in defensive transitions, Alozie provides balance on the flank, a crucial asset in tournament football.
Her defensive discipline and attacking support from wide areas will be crucial as Nigeria aims to control matches at WAFCON 2026.
6. Esther Okoronkwo (Nigeria – Forward / Wide Attacker)
Okoronkwo was one of the heroes of the 2024 WAFCON final, scoring a penalty and providing two assists in Nigeria’s 3–2 victory over Morocco. She also delivered a goal and two assists in the 5–0 quarterfinal win against Zambia.
At the club level, she helped AFC Toronto win the 2025 Northern Super League Supporters’ Shield, recording 23 goal contributions that year, including 8 goals and 7 assists.
Her versatility and productivity make her vital to Nigeria’s attack.
Her proven impact in finals makes her one of Nigeria’s most reliable attacking weapons heading into WAFCON 2026.
5. Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco – Attacking Midfielder)
Ghizlane Chebbak remains Morocco’s tactical and emotional leader.
The 2025 CAF Women’s Player of the Year, she captained Morocco to the WAFCON finals in 2022 and 2024, becoming only the second player in history to win back-to-back WAFCON Golden Boots.
Domestically, her dominance is remarkable: 10 Moroccan league titles, 9 Throne Cups, five league top-scorer awards, and three “Player of the Year in Morocco” honors.
She controls tempo, dictates attacking transitions, and delivers decisive goals from midfield. With WAFCON 2026 hosted in South Africa, her influence could again shape the tournament.
4. Racheal Kundananji (Zambia – Forward / Attacking Midfielder)
Racheal Kundananji represents the new financial and competitive ceiling of African women’s football.
In 2024, she became the most expensive female footballer in history following her move to Bay FC, becoming the first African player to break the world transfer record.
Her production backs it up. Between 2022 and 2024, she scored 33 goals in 43 league matches for Madrid CFF, establishing herself as one of Europe’s most consistent forwards.
She has represented Zambia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the Paris 2024 Olympics, gaining elite tournament experience.
Her movement between defensive lines and chemistry with Banda make Zambia’s frontline one of the most dangerous in Africa. Her pace and combination play will be central to Zambia’s hopes of breaking defensive lines at WAFCON 2026.
3. Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria – Forward)
Rasheedat Ajibade is not only Nigeria’s captain but one of Africa’s most electrifying forwards, now plying her trade at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France’s top flight. Since her move, she has been exposed to elite tactical systems, high-tempo pressing, and consistently top-level European competition, elements that sharpen her decision-making, movement in transition, and precision in front of goal.
Named Player of the Tournament at WAFCON 2025, Ajibade’s combination of pace, direct dribbling, and clinical finishing was vital in Nigeria’s dramatic 3–2 final victory over Morocco. Her transfer to PSG has only elevated her game, forcing her to adapt to faster defensive rotations and refined attacking patterns, which in turn enhances her ability to unlock tight backlines at the international level.
Her club experience at PSG, where she trains and competes with some of the world’s best daily, will help keep her at the apex of African attacking talent. Heading into WAFCON 2026, that blend of domestic leadership and elite club polish makes her one of the tournament’s most dangerous match-winners. With her experience and proven tournament pedigree, she will be expected to lead Nigeria’s attack and decide tight matches at WAFCON 2026.
2. Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria – Goalkeeper)
Nnadozie enters WAFCON 2026 as Africa’s most decorated goalkeeper. She won African Best Female Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023, 2024, and 2025, becoming the first to claim the award three straight times. In 2025, she finished 65th in the Yashin Trophy rankings and was recognized globally by The Guardian.
Calm under pressure, dominant in the air, and confident in distribution, she has proven that elite goalkeeping decides knockout tournaments. At WAFCON 2026, her shot-stopping and leadership at the back could be the difference in knockout matches where margins are minimal.
1. Barbra Banda (Zambia – Forward)
Barbra Banda is now a global force. In 2024, she became the first African named to the FIFPRO Women’s World 11, while also winning BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year and African Women’s Footballer of the Year.
She led Orlando Pride to their first NWSL Championship and Shield in 2024, scoring the title-winning goal and earning Championship MVP. In 2025, Barbra Banda also featured on The Guardian’s "100 Best Female Footballers in the World" list, where she ranked 14th globally. Banda thrives in transition and inside the box. At WAFCON 2026, she will be Zambia’s main match-winner. If Zambia is to challenge for the title in 2026, Banda’s ability to turn half-chances into goals will be decisive.
Why These Players Matter in WAFCON 2026
WAFCON 2026 promises to be one of the most competitive editions yet. With players now plying their trade in top leagues around the world, Africa’s female footballers bring a blend of speed, tactical awareness, and technical sharpness unmatched on the continent.
The presence of global performers like Barbra Banda and Chiamaka Nnadozie, combined with emerging stars such as Stella Nyamekye and Zainah Nandede, reflects the widening talent pool and rising investment in women’s football across Africa.
Whether it’s pace and finishing, defensive organization, or midfield control, these are the names most likely to influence results, change matches, and define WAFCON 2026 on the biggest stages.
