Breaking News: CAF Postpones Women’s Africa Cup Of Nations 2026 Just 12 Days Before Kick-off

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the postponement of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) just a mere 12 days before the tournament was scheduled to commence in Morocco.

In a statement released on Thursday, African football’s governing body cited “unforeseen circumstances” as the reason for rescheduling the prestigious competition.

This year’s tournament held particular significance as it was also set to serve as a crucial qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The event was originally slated to run from 17th March to 3rd April.

Morocco had been poised to host its third consecutive edition of the WAFCON finals. However, in recent weeks, mounting reports of a potential change in host nation had generated considerable anxiety among both players and fervent supporters.

Speculation regarding Morocco’s willingness to stage the tournament intensified following the chaotic scenes witnessed during the 2025 Men’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. That dramatic match saw Morocco suffer a 1-0 defeat to Senegal at the Stade Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat, an event that reportedly raised concerns about the country’s organisational capabilities.

CAF stated that the decision to postpone the tournament was made to “ensure the success of this important women’s competition.” Crucially, the statement did not provide any indication of a new host nation or revised dates, merely confirming that “preparations for the tournament are underway.”

The group stage draw for the expanded 16-team tournament had already taken place on 15th January, yet CAF had notably failed to publish the full match schedule. Earlier in February, South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie was compelled to clarify remarks made by his deputy, who had suggested that South Africa was set to assume hosting duties for WAFCON 2026.

This latest postponement is likely to reignite questions surrounding CAF’s commitment to the development and consistency of the women’s game. Previous disruptions include the outright cancellation of the 2020 WAFCON due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations was similarly rescheduled to early 2022. The 2024 WAFCON, ultimately won by Nigeria, was only held in July of last year, largely owing to scheduling conflicts that included the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The WAFCON’s deferral marks the second continental tournament to be moved at short notice within the past 14 months. CAF previously postponed the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) just 18 days before it was due to commence in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda on 1st February 2025. On that occasion, the continent’s governing body explained that its experts had advised that additional time was required to ensure infrastructure and facilities were “at the levels necessary.” Those finals were eventually held in August of last year.