The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially postponed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, shifting the tournament from its initial March schedule to a new window between July and August.
The continental football governing body confirmed the decision in a statement published on its website on Thursday, ending weeks of uncertainty surrounding the tournament.
The competition, which Morocco secured the rights to host in October 2024, will now run from July 25 to August 16, following consultations between CAF, FIFA and other key stakeholders involved in organising the event.
The tournament was originally scheduled to take place from March 17 to April 3.
CAF said the change in dates was necessary to ensure the smooth organisation of the continent’s flagship women’s football competition.
“After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF decided to reschedule the dates of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 to 25 July – 16 August 2026 to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances,” the organisation said.
The governing body also expressed confidence that preparations for the tournament were progressing and that the event would meet expectations.
“Preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 are underway and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful,” the statement added.
The announcement comes after growing concerns about the readiness of the tournament, with several pre-competition arrangements yet to be finalised before the initial kickoff date. Key details such as venues for the knockout rounds, accreditation for journalists, match officials and technical workshops had not been confirmed, while promotional activities around the competition were also largely absent.
For defending champions Nigeria, the change in schedule could offer additional preparation time ahead of their title defence.
The Super Falcons recently concluded a two-match friendly series against Cameroon in Yaoundé, losing the first leg 1-0 before bouncing back with a 3-1 victory in the return fixture.
The tournament will also serve as Africa’s qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Under the qualification format, the four semi-finalists will secure automatic tickets to the global tournament, while another African side will have the opportunity to qualify through an intercontinental play-off.
The PUNCH