The Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), the continent's premier women's football championship, has kicked off in Morocco with a record 16-nation field, up from the previous 12-team format. The expanded tournament raises the stakes significantly, as several qualifying places for the next FIFA Women's World Cup are tied to the competition's results. Morocco, which has invested heavily in women's football in recent years, is hosting the event as one of the continent's rising forces in the sport.