The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, initially scheduled to be held in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, has been postponed. The decision was made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) during a meeting this Friday, February 27, less than three weeks before the originally planned kickoff.
This announcement comes as several national teams had already begun their preparations for the tournament. Rumors of a postponement had been circulating for several weeks, fueled by statements from the South African Deputy Minister of Sports and the lack of clear communication from CAF. Despite a virtual meeting with communications officers from member associations last Monday, CAF did not provide a definitive answer regarding the status of the tournament.
The absence of preparatory workshops, usually organized before major continental events, had also cast doubt on the holding of the competition. Internal tensions within CAF are also said to have contributed to this confusing situation. According to sources, an Executive Committee meeting took place in a tense climate, with President Patrice Motsepe avoiding directly addressing the issue of the Women's AFCON. He then briefly mentioned the subject during an interaction with the press, attempting to calm concerns but without providing details on the way forward.
The postponement of the 2026 Women's AFCON raises many questions about CAF's planning and commitment to women's football. This decision is a blow to players, coaches, and fans, especially as women's football is experiencing significant growth in Africa. It also disrupts the preparation of teams that had already started their training camp and finalized their logistics for the tournament.
The final draw for the competition had taken place on January 15, 2026, in Rabat. Host country Morocco was to be the head of Group A, while defending champion Nigeria was placed in Group C. The tournament was to take place in four cities: Rabat, Casablanca, and Fez. CAF has not yet announced new dates for the tournament.
