The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), initially scheduled to be held in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, has been postponed indefinitely by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The announcement was made by the sports newspaper L'Equipe, citing sources close to CAF.
Although no official confirmation has been published by CAF, this decision comes less than three weeks before the scheduled kick-off, raising concerns about the organization and preparation of this major event in African women's football.
Doubt about the tournament being held in Morocco had already been raised a few weeks ago. Peace Mabe, the South African Deputy Minister of Sports, had even mentioned the possibility of South Africa hosting the competition if Morocco withdrew. "We seized the opportunity because we believe we have the necessary infrastructure. When Morocco said: 'We are not available to organize the competition', we indicated that we were," she said.
According to L'Equipe, Morocco wants the competition postponed without questioning its organization. This decision comes after the men's Africa Cup of Nations, the final of which was marked by incidents and a victory for Senegal against Morocco.
The final draw for the 2026 Women's AFCON had nevertheless taken place on January 15, 2026, in Rabat. The tournament was to take place in four cities: Rabat, Casablanca and Fez. The teams had been divided into four groups: Morocco, the host country, was to lead Group A, while Nigeria, the defending champion, was to head Group C.
This edition of the Women's AFCON was to mark a turning point with the expansion of the tournament to 16 teams, compared to 12 previously. Nine of the qualified teams had participated in the 2024 edition, while Cape Verde and Malawi were to make their first appearance. The four semi-finalists of the competition were to obtain automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.
The postponement of the 2026 Women's AFCON raises questions about CAF's commitment to women's football and is a setback for players, coaches and supporters. CAF has not yet announced new dates or a plan to reschedule the tournament.
