The Best Looks from the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations How formalwear has become part of African national teams' identity

After hosting the latest edition of the men's Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco is now staging the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, taking place from July 26 to August 16. And just as happened during the men's tournament, the women's competition is also standing out for the remarkable style showcased through the formalwear worn by the participating national teams. The result is a sophisticated blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary tailoring, brought together with effortless elegance.

Take Nigeria, for example. The team's players arrived wearing an elegant sheath dress featuring different shades of green, enriched with intricate embroidery and paired with a modern reinterpretation of the Gele, the country's iconic headwrap. A similar approach was adopted by Nigeria, while Cameroon opted for a navy blue jacket-and-skirt ensemble elevated by vibrant embroidered details.

Following the same direction seen with the men's national team, Ivory Coast also embraced a tailored look, pairing a vibrant orange blazer with white trousers and a crisp white shirt. Meanwhile, Madomarque designed Senegal's travel outfit: a delicate tunic finished with a bow at the back, layered over an all-white shirt-and-trousers combination.

Tradition also remains at the heart of the teams that opted for silhouettes closer to classic Western tailoring. Zambia wore bespoke blazers featuring the federation's crest embroidered over the chest, while Cape Verde's white T-shirts were embellished with two woven embroidered bands showcasing traditional motifs. Kenya, on the other hand, elevated its tracksuits with a graphic pattern inspired by the national flag.

All of these looks were showcased during the teams' arrivals in Morocco ahead of the tournament, rather than through the now-familiar walk-ins on the way to the stadium. Yet that was enough to turn formalwear into one of the defining talking points of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, drawing the attention of audiences who otherwise might never have followed the competition. It is another reminder that fashion, much like sport itself, has the ability to transcend cultural and geographical boundaries, engaging people who, at least on paper, would have had no reason to care.