The 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) could produce a number of new milestones when the competition begins in Morocco, with the expanded 16-team format creating additional opportunities for players and teams to rewrite the record books.
According to the Confederation of African Football, the 14th edition of the tournament may witness fresh records in appearances, titles and goalscoring statistics.
CAF outlined the possible milestones in a release titled “TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations records that could be broken.”
Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné targets a historic eighth appearance
Cameroon captain Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné is on the verge of becoming the most experienced player in WAFCON history.
CAF said that if she features against Mali at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium on July 29, she will make her eighth appearance at a WAFCON finals.
The achievement would move her ahead of Nigeria’s Onome Ebi, who has participated in seven editions, and make the Cameroonian the first player to reach eight tournament appearances.
Francisca Ordega and Osinachi Ohale chase a sixth title
Nigeria’s Francisca Ordega and Osinachi Ohale could extend their dominance in the competition if the Super Falcons retain the title.
The pair currently share the record for the most WAFCON titles won by a player, having lifted the trophy five times each.
A successful title defence by Nigeria would give both players a sixth winners’ medal and further strengthen their standing in the tournament’s history.
CAF described the duo as “perennial winners and overall leaders” whose longevity has made them role models for many players across Africa.
Mariem Houij’s fastest-goal mark faces fresh threat
Tunisia forward Mariem Houij remains the holder of the fastest goal ever scored at a WAFCON finals.
She set the record in 2022 by scoring against Togo after only 17 seconds.
CAF described the strike as a “lightning-fast sprint followed by a clean strike” and noted that it remains the quickest goal in the competition.
With 413 players expected to participate in Morocco, the governing body believes the record could come under serious pressure.
Perpetua Nkwocha’s single-tournament scoring feat remains in focus
Former Nigeria striker Perpetua Nkwocha still holds the record for the most goals scored by a player in a single WAFCON edition.
Nkwocha netted 11 goals during the 2010 tournament, including hat-tricks against Mali in the group stage and Cameroon in the semi-finals.
CAF said the tally remains “an all-time high mark that remains the ultimate standard for goal-scoring efficiency on the continent – 16 years later!”
The larger tournament format means leading strikers in 2026 will have more matches in which to challenge the long-standing record.
Overall tournament goals record could be surpassed
The highest number of goals scored in a single WAFCON edition is currently 66, a record established at the 2024 tournament in Morocco.
CAF said the previous edition “reached unprecedented heights of attacking efficiency” as teams produced a record number of goals.
The governing body believes the expansion from 12 to 16 teams and the increase in fixtures create favourable conditions for a new tournament scoring record.
CAF added that the additional matches “provide the perfect opportunity to see this glass ceiling shattered and a new goalscoring record established.”
With more teams, more players and more fixtures than ever before, the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is expected to offer not only a broader competitive field but also a realistic chance for several long-standing records to be broken during the tournament in Morocco.
