The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), just 12 days before the tournament was set to kick off in Morocco.
The tournament, which had been originally scheduled to hold from July 25 – August 16, 2026, will now take place from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
This year’s edition will still be hosted by Morocco, which was granted the hosting rights in October 2024.
CAF announced the decision in a statement on Thursday, citing “unforeseen circumstances”. It explained that the adjustment followed consultations with key partners, including FIFA and other stakeholders involved in organising the competition.
“The decision to reschedule the dates was taken to ensure the success of this important women’s competition,” CAF said in its statement.
The change comes just 12 days before the tournament was originally scheduled to kick off, raising fresh questions about scheduling stability in African football competitions.
The 2026 edition of WAFCON will carry added significance, as it also serves as part of the qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted in Brazil.
Morocco had been preparing to host the tournament for a third consecutive time, reinforcing its growing status as a major hub for African football competitions. However, speculation had recently emerged about potential changes to the hosting arrangement.
Reports of possible hosting adjustments surfaced after South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, clarified remarks by his deputy suggesting that South Africa could step in as hosts. The comments added to uncertainty surrounding the tournament in recent weeks.
Concerns had also grown following dramatic scenes during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, when Morocco lost 1–0 to Senegal at the Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat in January. While unrelated to the women’s tournament, the chaotic aftermath of the match reportedly heightened scrutiny of Morocco’s readiness to stage major competitions.
Despite the rescheduling, CAF has reiterated its commitment to delivering a successful tournament. The group stage draw for the expanded 16-team competition had already been conducted on January 15, although the full match schedule had not yet been released.
“Preparations for the WAFCON 2026 are underway and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful,” the statement concluded.
