Africa Cup of Nations. Women. Alternative Matches
The Women's Africa Cup of Nations in alternative matches format reimagines Africa's premier women's tournament by blending traditional 11-a-side with dynamic variants like 7x7 or mini-games. Organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), it unites top women's national teams, emphasizing entertainment through rule tweaks that boost pace and spectator engagement.
History and foundation
Rooted in the inaugural 1991 Women's AFCON, alternative matches emerged around 2018 amid global mini-football trends akin to FIFA's futsal push. The 2020 Nigeria-hosted debut saw the Super Falcons triumph 5-3 over South Africa in a thrilling 7x7 final, drawing 25,000 fans—a record. Morocco's 2022 edition featured VR streams with 10 million views, while a Ghana-Algeria semifinal referee controversy fueled debates, highlighting the format's intensity.
Tournament format
Twelve teams split into three groups of four for round-robin alternative matches: 7x7 on a 40x60m pitch with 5-minute rotations and long-range bonuses. Group winners and top runners-up advance to quarterfinals, followed by knockouts to the final. Spanning 10 days, it pairs main and alt streams with fan challenges.
Interesting facts
Matches average 4.8 goals, driven by compact play. Top scorer Asata Oseni (Nigeria) nets 22 across tournaments with dazzling dribbles. Standouts include Gabrielle Ongu (Cameroon, 15 assists, 32 km/h speed), Tebogo Motso (South Africa, 18 set-piece goals), and Mantse Abena (Ghana, 42 interceptions). These athletes dominate stats and inspire Africa's rising stars.