The Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2026, initially scheduled from March 17 to April 3, 2026, will now take place from July 25 to August 16, 2026, in Morocco.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced this date change in an official statement, explaining that the decision was made after consultations with FIFA and other stakeholders. The reasons for this postponement are due to "unforeseen circumstances," according to CAF, which aims to ensure the best organizational conditions for this major event in African women's football.
Morocco was granted the right to organize this competition in October 2024. The 2026 Women's AFCON will mark the third consecutive time that Morocco has hosted the tournament. The cities of Casablanca, Fez, and Rabat have been chosen as venues for the matches.
CAF has reassured that preparations are continuing normally despite this schedule change. The governing body of African football is confident in the success of the 2026 edition, which will highlight the progress of women's football on the continent.
This edition of the Women's AFCON will see the participation of 16 teams, compared to 12 in previous editions. The final draw took place on January 15, 2026, in Rabat. Nigeria, the winner of the 2024 edition, is automatically placed in Group C.
The Women's AFCON has become an important showcase for African women's football, serving as a lever for the development of the discipline in various national federations. In addition, this tournament will serve as qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, where four African teams will secure automatic qualification and two more will participate in the intercontinental playoffs.
Morocco, which has invested heavily in women's football, hopes to improve on its runner-up finish in previous editions and win the title in front of its home crowd.
