The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the postponement of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, initially scheduled from March 17 to April 3. The tournament will now take place from July 25 to August 16 in Morocco.
This decision, announced on March 5, comes just weeks before the originally planned kick-off. CAF justifies this postponement by the need to ensure the smooth running of the competition, citing "unforeseen circumstances". According to some sources, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation requested this change of dates to avoid a calendar conflict with national competitions.
This postponement disrupts the preparations of several national teams, some of which had already started training camps. This is particularly the case for Nigeria, whose team had scheduled friendly matches against Cameroon. The postponement also poses logistical and financial problems for federations, sponsors and supporters who had already booked their flights and accommodation.
The 2026 Women's AFCON will mark the third consecutive time that Morocco has hosted the tournament. This edition will also see the participation of 16 teams, compared to 12 in previous editions. The cities of Casablanca, Fez and Rabat have been chosen to host the matches.
In addition to the continental title, the competition will serve as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. The top four African teams will directly qualify for the World Cup, while two other teams will have a chance to qualify via intercontinental play-offs. Nigeria is the defending champion, having won its tenth title in 2024.
Despite this postponement, CAF is reassuring about the success of the event. However, some observers believe that this late decision could harm the momentum of women's football in Africa.
The competition will therefore take place from July 25 to August 16, 2026, offering the qualified teams the opportunity to compete for the continental title and secure a place for the World Cup.
