West African Football Union

The West African Football Union (; ), officially abbreviated as WAFU-UFOA and WAFU, is a sports governing body representing the football associations in West Africa that was founded in 1975 and is a subregional body of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

It mainly organizes qualifying tournaments/championships for the CAF Women's Champions League and CAF's national team competitions except the Africa Cup of Nations, but also organizes its own competitions, like the currently-inactive WAFU Nations Cup.

Presidents K. Tandoh (1975–1977) Seyi Memene (1977–1984) Abdoulaye Fofana (1984–1988) Jonathan Boytie Ogufere (1988–1994) Dieng Ousseynou (1994–1999) Abdulmumini Aminu (1999–2002) El Hadji Malick Sy (2002–2004) Jacques Anouma (2004–2008) Amos Adamu (2008–2010) Kwesi Nyantakyi (2011–2018) Kurt Okraku (2019–present)

Member associations WAFU consists of all football associations of West Africa, but is split into two zones by CAF, who cited "organisational issues facing WAFU." Zone A Zone B Country Zone Governing body Zone A Cape Verdean Football Federation Gambia Football Association Guinean Football Federation Football Federation of Guinea-Bissau Liberia Football Association Malian Football Federation Senegalese Football Federation Sierra Leone Football Association Zone B Benin Football Federation Burkinabé Football Federation Ghana Football Association Ivorian Football Federation Nigerien Football Federation Nigeria Football Federation Togolese Football Federation

Competitions

WAFU runs main and qualifying competitions covering men, women and youth.

Current title holders

Competition Year Champions Rank/Score Runners-up Next edition Most titlesNational teams (men) WAFU Nations Cup 2019 1st TBD (2) Zone A U-20 Championship 2024 3rd 2026 (3) Zone B U-20 Championship 2026 1st 2028 (2) Zone A U-17 Championship 2025 4th 2026 (4) Zone B U-17 Championship 2025 2nd 2026 (2) (2) Zone A U-15 Championship 2022 3–0 TBD Zone A Schools Championship 2022 CS Ben Sekou Sylla 1st New Yundum TBD Zone B Schools Championship 2022 CEG Sainte Rita 1st CS Venus Saioua TBD WAFU Zone A Beach Soccer TBD National teams (women) Zone A Women's Cup 2025 1st TBD (2) Zone B Women's Cup 2019 1st TBD (1) (1) WAFU Zone A U20 Women's Cup 2026 3rd TBD (3) WAFU Zone A U-17 Girls Tournament 2025 1st TBD (1) WAFU Zone B U20 Women's Cup 2025 1st TBD (1) (1) WAFU Zone B U-17 Girls Cup 2026 1st 2028 (1) (1) Zone A Girls Schools Championship 2022 Scan Aid 1st Ecole Congresso De Cassaca TBD Zone B Girls Schools Championship 2022 CEG Colby 1st Ecole Chanvigny B TBD Clubs (women) CAF Women's Champions League Qualifiers (Zone A) 2025 USFAS Bamako 1–0 Aigles de la Médina 2027 AS Mandé (women) (2) USFAS Bamako (women) (2) CAF Women's Champions League Qualifiers (Zone B) 2026 Edo Queens2–2 Ampem Darkoa Ladies 2027 Edo Queens (2)

Defunct competitions Competition Duration CEDEAO Cup 1977–1991 West African Club Championship 1977–2011 Amílcar Cabral Cup 1979–2007 West African Nations Cup 1982–1987 UEMOA Tournament 2007–2016 WAFU U20 Women's Cup Proposed for 2022 but never happened

Major tournament records Legend – Champions – Runners-up – Third place – Fourth place – Quarter-finals (1934–1938, 1954–1970, and 1986–present: knockout round of 8) R3 — Round 3 (2026–present: knockout round of 16) R2 — Round 2 (1974–1978: second group stage, top 8; 1982: second group stage, top 12; 1986–2022: knockout round of 16; 2026–present: knockout round of 32) R1 — Round 1 (1930, 1950–1970 and 1986–present: group stage; 1934–1938: knockout round of 16; 1974–1982: first group stage) Q — Qualified for upcoming tournament – Qualified but withdrew – Did not qualify – Did not enter / Withdrew / Banned – Hosts – Not affiliated in FIFA

For each tournament, the flag of the host country and the number of teams in each finals tournament (in brackets) are shown.

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record Team1930(13)1934(16)1938(15)1950(13)1954(16)1958(16)1962(16)1966(16)1970(16)1974(16)1978(16)1982(24)1986(24)1990(24)1994(24)1998(32)2002(32)2006(32)2010(32)2014(32)2018(32)2022(32)2026(48)2030(48)2034(48)Apps.Zone A Members Part of Portugal ×××ו••••• R2 1/7 Part of France ×ו••••×••QF ••• R1 R2 R2 4/13Zone B Members Part of France ××ו•×••••• R1 R1 R1 •• R2 4/12 Part of the United Kingdom וו••×••••• R2 QF R1 •R1 R2 5/15 Part of the United Kingdom •×•••••• R2 R2 R1 • R1 R2 R1 •• 6/16 Part of France ××ו••×ו•• R1 ••••• 1/11 Total (6 teams) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 3 3 3 2 2 3 TBD TBD 21

FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup recordTeam1991(12)1995(12)1999(16)2003(16)2007(16)2011(16)2015(24)2019(24)2023(32)2027(32)Apps.Zone B Members••R1R1R1••••3/9××ו••R1•••1/7R1R1QFR1R1R1R1R2R2•9/10Total (3 teams)112221211 13

Olympic Games Men's tournament

Olympic Games (Men's tournament) record Team 1900(3) 1904(3) 1908(6) 1912(11) 1920(14) 1924(22) 1928(17) 1936(16) 1948(18) 1952(25) 1956(11) 1960(16) 1964(14) 1968(16) 1972(16) 1976(13) 1980(16) 1984(16) 1988(16) 1992(16) 1996(16) 2000(16) 2004(16) 2008(16) 2012(16) 2016(16) 2020(16) 2024(16) 2028(12) Apps.Zone A Members 11 – – – – – – – – – – – 16 2 – – – – – – – – – 5 – – – – 14 2 – – – – – – – – – – – – 6 – – – 1Zone B Members – – – – – – – – – – 6 – 7 – 2 – – 7 12 16 – – 3 8 – 9 – – – – – 6 – – – – 14 – 13 – 15 – 1 8 – 2 – 3 – – 7 Total (6 teams) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1 0 1 0 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 20

Women's tournament

Olympic Games (Women's tournament) record Team 1996(8) 2000(8) 2004(10) 2008(12) 2012(12) 2016(12) 2020(12) 2024(12) 2028(16) Apps. – 8 6 11 – – – 11 4 Total (1 team) 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 TBD 4

Africa Cup of Nations

Team1957(3)1959(3)1962(4)1963(6)1965(6)1968(8)1970(8)1972(8)1974(8)1976(8)1978(8)1980(8)1982(8)1984(8)1986(8)1988(8)1990(8)1992(12)1994(12)1996(15)1998(16)2000(16)2002(16)2004(16)2006(16)2008(16)2010(15)2012(16)2013(16)2015(16)2017(16)2019(24)2021(24)2023(24)2025(24)2027(24)Apps.Zone A Members • × • • • • • • • QF GS • • R16 QF • 4 × × × × • × • • • • • × • × × × × • • • • • • • × • • QF GS • 2 •• • • GS • GS 2nd • GS • • • • • • GS • GS • × QF QF QF • GS • QF • R16 R16 QF • 14 × × × • × × × × × • × • • • • GS GS GS GS • 4 × × • × × × • × × • × • • • × • GS • • GS • • • • • • • • • • • • 2 • • • 2nd • • • • • • • • • • 4th • • • 4th 4th • GS GS 3rd 3rd GS GS R16 R16 QF QF 14 4th GS • • • • • × • • GS • 4th QF QF • • QF 2nd QF 4th GS • GS • GS QF 2nd 1st R16 2nd 18 × × × • × • × • • × • × • GS GS × × • • • • • • • • • × GS • • 3Zone B Members × × × • × × × • × • • • • • • × • • • GS • GS GS • • • • QF • • R16 5 × • × × • × GS × • × × × • • × GS 4th GS GS GS • • GS GS 2nd GS 3rd • 4th R16 R16 14 • 1st 1st 2nd 2nd • • • 1st GS 1st GS • • • 2nd QF 4th GS QF QF • GS 3rd 2nd 4th 4th 2nd 4th R16 GS GS • 24 3rd 3rd 4th • GS • •• GS × GS 3rd GS GS 1st 3rd GS QF GS GS • 2nd 4th QF 2nd QF 1st GS QF R16 1st QF 26 × • • × • × × × • × × × • • × × • • • • • • GS GS • • • • • • 2 × GS × • × • • 3rd 3rd 1st GS 2nd • 2nd 2nd 3rd 1st •• × 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd QF 3rd • 1st • • 3rd R16 2nd 3rd 21 × • • GS × • • • • GS • • × • × • GS GS GS • GS • •• • QF • GS • • • • 8 Total (15 teams) 0 0 0 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 3 4 2 4 2 2 3 4 7 5 5 6 8 6 6 7 6 7 8 7 7 8 11 10 6 TBD 161

Women's Africa Cup of Nations

Women's Africa Cup of Nations recordTeam 1991(4) 1995(6) 1998(7) 2000(8) 2002(8) 2004(8) 2006(8) 2008(8) 2010(8) 2012(8) 2014(8) 2016(8) 2018(8) 2022(12) 2024(12) 2026(16) Apps.Zone A Members × • GS1 SF × • × × • • • • • × • × • • •1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 • • R1 4th • QF GS9 •• × × × • • • • • R1 • • • QF QF GS4 × QF × × × × × × • × × × × • × •1Zone B Members × × × • • • R1 • GS2QF SF 2nd 3rd 2nd 3rd 2nd R1 R1 • R1 3rd R1 • 3rd QF14 × × × × • × • • • R1 3rd • • • • QF3 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 3rd 1st 4th 1st 1st 1st 4th 1st QF16 • × × × × × × R1 • •1 Total (10 teams) 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 7 52

FIFA U-20 World Cup

FIFA U-20 World Cup recordTeam1977(16)1979(16)1981(16)1983(16)1985(16)1987(16)1989(16)1991(16)1993(16)1995(16)1997(24)1999(24)2001(24)2003(24)2005(24)2007(24)2009(24)2011(24)2013(24)2015(24)2017(24)2019(24)2023(24)2025(24)2027(24)Apps.Zone A Members ××ו•×ו×××ווR2••••••R2• 2 •R1••••••×•••×•••••••R1••• 2 ××××××R1••••3rd•R1•••R1R13rd•QF•• 7 ××ו×ו••••••••••••4thR2QFR1• 4Zone B Members ××××××ו×ו×××R1ו•••×••• 1 ××××××××ו•×•R2•••••••••• 1 ×××ו•••2nd•4thQF2nd•••1st•3rdR2•••• 7 R1××R1•••R1וR1••R2•••••••••• 5 ו•R13rdR12nd••••QF••2ndQFR2QFR2R2•R2QFR2 14 ×ו•×R1×ו•×•×•×•×•×•×••• 1Total (10 teams)110212211023132222342331TBD 44

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup recordTeam2002(12)2004(12)2006(16)2008(16)2010(16)2012(16)2014(16)2016(16)2018(16)2022(16)2024(24)2026(24)Apps.Zone B Members •••••••••••R11 ×ו•R1R1R1R1R1R1R1R18 R1QFQFQF2nd4th2ndR1QFQFR2QF12Total (3 teams)11112222222326

FIFA U-17 World Cup

FIFA U-17 World Cup recordTeam1985(16)1987(16)1989(16)1991(16)1993(16)1995(16)1997(16)1999(16)2001(16)2003(16)2005(16)2007(24)2009(24)2011(24)2013(24)2015(24)2017(24)2019(24)2023(24)2025(48)2026(48) Apps.Zone A Members••••••••••R1•R1•••••×••24th•R1••R1•••••••••R1R1××ו6••••••QFR1QF••••••2nd4th•3rdR3Q8•••••••••••••••••R2R2R2Q4•••••••••R1•••••••••••1Zone B Members•••••••R13rd•••R2R1••••R1QF•6••R11st2nd1st2nd3rd••R14th••••QF•••9•3rd••••••••R1••R2QF••••R1Q6••••••••••••••••R2••••1 1st2ndQF•1stQF••2ndR1•1st2nd•1st1st•R2•••12•••••••••••R1•••••••••1Total (11 teams)223123233233322342343 56

FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup recordTeam2008(16)2010(16)2012(16)2014(16)2016(16)2018(16)2022(16)2024(16)2025(24)2026(24)2027(24)2028(24)2029(24)Apps.Zone BA Members××R1×ו××××1Zone B MembersR1R13rdQFQFQF•××Q7××××××××R1•1R1QFQFQFR1•3rdQFR2Q9Total (4 teams)2232211122TBDTBDTBD18

FIFA Futsal World Cup

FIFA Futsal World Cup record Team 1989(16) 1992(16) 1996(16) 2000(16) 2004(16) 2008(20) 2012(24) 2016(24) 2021(24) 2024(24) 2028(24) Apps.×R1××ו••××1Total (1 team)01000000001

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup recordTeam 1995 (8) 1996 (8) 1997 (8) 1998 (10) 1999 (12) 2000 (12) 2001 (12) 2002 (8) 2003 (8) 2004 (12) 2005 (12) 2006 (12) 2007 (16) 2008 (16) 2009 (16) 2011 (16) 2013 (16) 2015 (16) 2017 (16) 2019 (16) 2021 (16) 2024 (16) 2025 (16) 2027 (??) Apps. • • • • • • • • • • × • • • R1 • R1 • • • • • • 2/23 • • • • • • • • • • × R1 QF • R1 QF • • R1 R1 × • • 6/23 • • • • • • • • • • × × QF R1 • QF R1 R1 QF QF 4th R1 4th 10/23 Total (3 teams) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 18

FIFA World Rankings Men's national teams

Top-ranked men's national football teams

Women's national teams

Top-ranked women's national football teams

Futsal

Beach Soccer

See also

UNAF CECAFA COSAFA UNIFFAC Confederation of African Football (CAF)

Notes

References

External links for WAFU Zone A for WAFU Zone B