Mama Diop reveals Senegal target at 2026 WAFCON

Senegal forward Mama Diop has set what they want to achieve at the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

The 16th edition of the WAFCON will be held in the North African nation for the third consecutive tournament, becoming the first country to achieve this feat. Venues in Casablanca, Fez and Rabat will be used for the tournament.

Cape Verde and Malawi will make their debuts in the tournament that will double as the African qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The top four teams will qualify for the World Cup, and two more teams will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Senegal want to go beyond quarters

“It comes down to hard work and discipline. In the previous editions, we stopped at the quarterfinals,” Mama Diop said as quoted by CAFOnline.com.

“This time, we want to go beyond that stage. The objective is clear: to take that next step, aim for the final and, why not, qualify for the biggest tournament in the world. It is an ambition shared by the entire team.”

On Senegal qualifying for the WAFCON three times in a row, Diop said: “It is a real sign of progress. Qualifying for the third time in a row shows that our work is paying off.

“Everything we do every day, in training and in matches, brings results. This qualification proves that women’s football in Senegal is growing and moving in the right direction.”

‘It has given us even more motivation’

Discussing their men’s team winning 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, Diop said: “We were extremely happy for them. It is a great source of pride to see the men’s team crowned African champions for the second time.

“It has given us even more motivation. People now expect Senegal to succeed in football, and seeing the boys reach the top pushes us to aim for the same level of excellence.”

Diop added: “Absolutely. It is a goal we all have in mind. Reaching the semi-finals and securing our ticket to the World Cup is a priority. Why not aim for a first qualification in our history? It would mean so much to us and to the entire country. We are working every day to make that dream a reality.”

Senegal sealed their place at the WAFCON after a gripping two-leg play-off against Côte d’Ivoire that went all the way to penalties. Senegal have been drawn in Group A alongside Kenya, hosts Morocco, and Algeria.