At Just 15, Tanzania's Elizabeth Chenge Is the Youngest Player at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations

When the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations kicked off in Morocco on July 26, one name immediately caught the attention of football fans across the continent. Elizabeth Chenge of Tanzania, just 15 years old, became the youngest player at the entire tournament — competing against professional women footballers three and four years her senior. The tournament has expanded to 16 teams for the first time, making it the biggest WAFCON in history. With 413 players from 16 nations registered, Chenge stands out not just for her age but for the sheer confidence it takes to be named in a senior national squad at such a young stage. She made her name through displays for JKT Queens and in Cecafa youth tournaments before earning her place in the squad. Chenge is not alone in representing a bright new wave of African women's football talent. Also selected at the tournament are players born in 2008 from Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Mali — a sign that coaches across the continent are increasingly willing to back their youngest stars when they are good enough. For aspiring young footballers, Chenge's selection is a powerful reminder that age is never the deciding factor — performance and attitude are. If you are developing your game every week, playing with confidence, and proving yourself in competitions, you give selectors no choice but to notice you, no matter how old you are. Africa's women's game is growing fast, and the players making an impact at WAFCON 2026 will inspire an entire generation of girls across the continent to pick up a football and believe they belong. Source: Punch Nigeria (https://punchng.com/tanzanias-chenge-youngest-player-at-wafcon-2026/)