The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the postponement of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which was originally scheduled to begin in Morocco this March. In a statement released on Thursday, 5 March 2026, CAF revealed that the tournament will now take place from 25 July to 16 August 2026. The decision was made following extensive discussions with FIFA and various logistical partners, citing “unforeseen circumstances” that made the original March 17 start date unfeasible. While specific details were not provided, analysts believe the delay is intended to allow for better coordination of global broadcast rights and to ensure that Morocco’s infrastructure is fully prepared after hosting the men’s AFCON earlier this year.
This rescheduling places the tournament in a critical window, as the 14th edition of WAFCON also serves as the primary qualification route for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. All four semi-finalists in the Morocco tournament will earn automatic qualification, while two additional teams will enter the inter-continental playoffs. The expanded format, featuring 16 teams for the first time, has already increased the logistical complexity of the event. Nigeria’s Super Falcons, the defending champions, are currently drawn in Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi, and will now have several additional months to fine-tune their preparations for what is expected to be the most competitive edition in the tournament’s history.
The hosts, Morocco, will be looking to capitalise on the home advantage once again after finishing as runners-up in the previous two editions. The summer scheduling is expected to provide a higher profile for the competition, avoiding a direct clash with the peak of the European club football season and allowing more international stars to participate without club conflicts. Fans across the continent have expressed mixed reactions to the news, with some praising the move for potentially cooler evening matches, while others have lamented the delay in seeing the continent’s best female athletes in action. CAF has assured stakeholders that all match fixtures and ticketing information will be updated to reflect the new July start date in the coming weeks.
