Rob Stevens

Patrick Vieira has been announced as Senegal's new coach, but he has not yet signed a contract and his appointment could be undermined by turmoil within the Senegalese Football Federation. The federation is disputing the termination and unpaid compensation of former coach Pape Thiaw, while the Court of Arbitration for Sport is due to rule on the contested FSF leadership. Vieira's appointment was made urgently ahead of Senegal's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, but the team's governing structure and coaching decision remain uncertain. The appointment also represents a symbolic homecoming for the Dakar-born former France and Arsenal captain, who helped establish the Diambars academy. He faces the task of rebuilding a team moving beyond its successful older generation, despite a managerial career that has produced mixed results at New York City FC, Nice, Crystal Palace, Strasbourg and Genoa.

Cameroon won the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations by defeating Malawi 3–0, becoming only the fourth team to claim the title. The expansion to 16 teams increased competitiveness, created opportunities for emerging sides such as Malawi and Tanzania, and helped all four semi-finalists qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Nigeria suffered its worst-ever tournament result and will miss the World Cup for the first time, prompting calls for structural reform. Persistent concerns include poor attendance, late scheduling, travel and visa costs, inconsistent VAR use and Morocco’s penalty struggles. CAF and FIFA face pressure to establish a stable tournament calendar before the 2028 edition and the Los Angeles Olympic qualifiers.

Cameroon won the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations by beating Malawi 3-0, with the expanded 16-team format producing more competitive matches and unexpected results. Cameroon, Malawi, Algeria and Morocco qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup, while Nigeria missed the tournament for the first time after defeats by Cameroon and South Africa. The finals also highlighted the success of female coaching, led by Cameroon's recently appointed Valentine Nguele, alongside persistent problems including poor attendances, travel and visa barriers, slow VAR reviews and contentious penalty decisions. Future editions will need a stable place in the FIFA calendar and a confirmed host for 2028.

Cameroon defeated tournament debutants Malawi 3-0 in Rabat to win their first Women's Africa Cup of Nations title. Marie Ngah Manga scored twice and Naomi Eto added a goal and an assist, while goalkeeper Michaely Bihina helped Cameroon keep Malawi's Chawinga sisters quiet. Cameroon reached the final after overcoming Nigeria and Morocco despite missing the previous tournament and initially failing to qualify, benefiting from CAF's expansion to 16 teams. Both finalists qualified for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil, alongside semi-finalists Algeria and Morocco.

Sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga have driven Malawi to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final against Cameroon, scoring nine of the team’s 12 goals. Tabitha overcame family and community opposition to become Malawi’s first female player in Europe and later won major titles and scoring awards in Sweden, China, Italy and France. Temwa followed her path, became a prolific scorer in China and the NWSL, and surpassed Haaland, Ronaldo and Messi as the world’s top calendar-year scorer in 2023. Malawi’s underdog team defeated Nigeria, finished ahead of Zambia, beat Ghana in the quarter-finals and Algeria in the semi-finals, securing qualification for the next Women’s World Cup. The sisters say greater investment in Malawian women’s football could produce more players like them.

The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco will determine Africa's four qualifiers for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. Nigeria enter as defending champions, while hosts Morocco seek a first title after two consecutive home final defeats. The preview highlights seven key players: Nigeria's Esther Okoronkwo, Malawi's Tabitha Chawinga, Morocco's Ghizlane Chebbak, Kenya's Lilian Awuor, Egypt's Nadine Ghazi, South Africa's Refiloe Jane and Cape Verde's Varsenia da Luz, whose performances could shape their teams' chances in a highly competitive tournament.

Africa’s expanded presence at the 2026 World Cup produced historic firsts, including initial tournament wins for Egypt and DR Congo and knockout-stage qualifications for Cape Verde, Ivory Coast and South Africa. Despite nine African teams reaching the knockout rounds, only Morocco advanced to the quarterfinals, while several sides were eliminated after conceding late goals. Analysts highlighted psychological and experiential factors behind end‑game lapses, though not unique to African teams. Cape Verde emerged as a major revelation, and Morocco confirmed continental leadership with a second consecutive quarterfinal appearance. Tunisia and Ghana underperformed, raising questions about coaching and attacking productivity. Off‑field issues, including visa denials for fans and an entry refusal for referee Omar Artan, generated criticism directed at U.S. authorities and FIFA. The tournament showcased African progress but underscored the need for greater competitive experience to convert potential into sustained results.

African teams achieved historic milestones at the 2026 World Cup as nine sides advanced beyond the group stage and several nations recorded their first tournament wins, yet only Morocco reached the quarter-finals. Cape Verde emerged as the surprise story, pushing Argentina to extra time, while recurring late collapses contributed to exits for Senegal, Egypt, DR Congo and Ivory Coast. Analysts attributed these failures to fatigue rather than structural weaknesses. Mixed performances from Tunisia and Ghana highlighted areas for improvement, and off-field visa issues and controversies involving referee Omar Artan drew criticism toward FIFA. Despite expanded participation and notable progress, overall continental advancement remained limited.

Cape Verde became the smallest nation to ever reach the knockout stage of the World Cup after securing second place in Group H. A strategy centered on recruiting players from its diaspora, combined with the stability provided by coach Bubista, contributed to the team’s strong performances against Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia. Key players such as Vozinha and Deroy Duarte were instrumental in historic results that defied expectations. The team’s achievement earned widespread admiration and set up a symbolic round‑of‑16 clash with Argentina and Lionel Messi, celebrated as one of the standout stories of the tournament.