As WAFCON 2024 wraps up in Morocco, its history-rich journey reflects the evolving landscape of African women's football:
Previous Winners
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Nigeria |
| 2000 | Nigeria |
| 2002 | Nigeria |
| 2004 | Nigeria |
| 2006 | Nigeria |
| 2008 | Equatorial Guinea |
| 2010 | Nigeria |
| 2012 | Equatorial Guinea |
| 2014 | Nigeria |
| 2016 | Nigeria |
| 2018 | Nigeria |
| 2022 |
South Africa |
2024 ?
Nigeria’s dominance defines the early decades of the competition, while newer champions emerge in recent editions.
Historical Context & Recent Shifts
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Nigeria (Super Falcons): Since the 1998 editions through 2018, Nigeria established themselves as the tournament’s powerhouse (9 titles in total).
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Equatorial Guinea: Broke Nigeria’s monopoly with wins in 2008 and again in 2012, becoming the first nation beyond Nigeria to lift the trophy.
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South Africa: The team claimed their first-ever WAFCON title in 2022, signaling a shift toward a broader continental table of contenders.
Tournament Growth & Evolution
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Expanded format: WAFCON expanded from eight to twelve teams in 2022, allowing more nations to vie in the group and knockout stages.
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Raised stakes: Prize money for champions was doubled for WAFCON 2024, awarding USD 1 million to the winners and reflecting increasing investment in women’s football across Africa.
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Growing competitiveness: Recent editions have seen more nations challenge for the title—Morocco, Ghana, and Zambia, among them—breaking the historical duopoly.
The Landscape Today
The ascendancy of Morocco as tournament hosts, the emergence of stronger squads from diverse regions, and the involvement of global-class players have transformed WAFCON into a tournament rich in competition and narrative. The historic dominance of Nigeria remains unmatched—but South Africa, Morocco, and others are making their mark on the continental stage.
