Uncertainty surrounds the organization of the upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), prompting reactions. South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has stated his country is ready to host the competition if Morocco withdraws.
In a statement relayed by Afrikfoot, McKenzie affirmed that South Africa has the necessary infrastructure and would not be "held hostage by countries that are less well-equipped". He called on Morocco to quickly clarify its position, emphasizing that football is a game where you win and lose.
"If Morocco is ready to host the Women's AFCON after a successful AFCON, they should do so. If they are not, we want to tell them that we have stadiums and we are not a country with less infrastructure," McKenzie said. He insisted that South Africa is ready to step in if Morocco does not wish to organize the competition.
With less than two weeks before the scheduled kickoff, rumors of postponement or a total withdrawal by Morocco have created chaos around the tournament. McKenzie criticized the lack of transparency regarding the event, which is scheduled to take place from March 17 to April 3, 2026. He also questioned whether Morocco's hesitation was due to geopolitical tensions or the fallout from the Men's AFCON final.
Despite these statements, the Sports Minister had nuanced the words of his own deputy, Peace Mabe, who had announced that the tournament would be held in South Africa. McKenzie insisted that no formal decision had been taken and that Morocco remained the official host.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe had also reaffirmed that Morocco remained the host because other interested nations wanted to change the dates, which the federation strongly opposed.
Morocco was confirmed as host for the third consecutive time, becoming the first country to host three editions in a row. The cities of Casablanca, Fez and Rabat have been designated as host sites. The tournament was initially scheduled to take place with 12 teams, but CAF decided to expand it to 16 teams after the end of the qualifiers. Nigeria is the defending champion, having beaten Morocco 3-2 in the final in 2024.
South Africa is positioning itself as a credible alternative, highlighting its quality infrastructure and its ability to organize major sporting events. The final decision regarding the host country of the 2026 Women's AFCON remains awaited, as the kickoff date approaches rapidly.
