The Sierra Leone National Women’s Football team, Sierra Queens faces a tough journey in their quest to secure a place in the next Women’s African Cup of Nations.
Sierra Leone will meet Benin in the first round of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 Qualifiers and will then have to face a tougher opponent in round two if they get passed Benin.
The Queens from the West Coast of the continent will have to first travel to Benin for the leg encounter of the first round which will be played between the 17th of February before hosting the return leg on the 26th of February 2025.
Meanwhile, the winner of the two teams will face the African powerhouse, Nigeria in the second round.
The Super Falcons were given a bye for the first round following the super ranking status. The second round of fixtures is scheduled for October 20–28, 2025.
According to CAF, a total of 38 African nations will compete for one of the 12 available spots in the final phase, alongside host nation Morocco, which qualifies automatically.
This marks the third consecutive time that Morocco will host Africa’s premier women’s football competition, reinforcing the country’s pivotal role in developing and promoting the sport across the continent.
The reigning champions, South Africa, are among the six nations exempted from the first round due to their high ranking among Africa’s top teams in the FIFA rankings. Joining them with exemptions are Zambia, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Cameroon.
These dominant teams are expected to make a strong impact as they enter the competition in the second round.
The qualifiers will take place in two rounds of home-and-away matches, promising intense and decisive encounters.
The first-round fixtures are scheduled from February 17 to 26, 2025, while the second round will occur between October 20 and 28, 2025.
This qualification process will highlight emerging forces in African women’s football while showcasing the growing competitiveness of established nations. The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is poised to be a celebration of the talent and passion that drive the sport on the continent.
