Football: Women’s Africa Cup of Nations postponed

Football: Women’s Africa Cup of Nations postponed

Months of speculation have led to a last-minute decision by the governing body of African football, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), to delay the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Originally set for mid-March, the event will now take place in the summer of 2026, with the opening date shifted to July 25. The tournament will be hosted in Morocco, marking the country’s third consecutive appearance as the event’s organizer.

“After consultations with FIFA and other key stakeholders, the CAF has chosen to reschedule TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026 to July 25 through August 16. This adjustment aims to guarantee the tournament’s success,” stated the CAF in its official communication.

The decision was made without specifying the cause, citing “certain unforeseen circumstances.” Despite this, the organization emphasized ongoing preparations and expressed confidence in the event’s outcome. The announcement follows a recent assertion by CAF President Patrice Motsepe that no changes to the schedule were expected, yet this stance was later overturned.

Meanwhile, concerns had been circulating for weeks about Morocco’s ability to host the competition. At one point, South Africa’s deputy minister of sport suggested their nation could step in as a replacement. However, this was refuted by the country’s sports minister. As of now, Morocco remains the host, though the event will occur several months later than initially planned.