The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) has been postponed just 12 days before the tournament was set to kick off in Morocco, highlighting ongoing challenges in organizing major African football competitions.
The Confederation of African Football (Caf) announced on Thursday that the competition, which also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, will now take place from 25 July to 16 August due to “unforeseen circumstances.” The tournament had been scheduled for 17 March to 3 April.
Morocco was to host the Wafcon for a third consecutive time, but uncertainty over the venue has persisted in recent weeks. Tensions escalated following the chaotic scenes at the 2025 men’s Afcon final, when Morocco lost 1-0 to Senegal at Rabat’s Stade Moulay Abdellah. Caf said the postponement aims to “ensure the success of this important women’s competition,” but it has not confirmed whether Morocco will remain the host nation.
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The expanded 16-team tournament had its group stage draw on 15 January, yet the full match schedule has not been published. Confusion over hosting intensified after South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie had to clarify remarks from his deputy suggesting South Africa would take over as hosts.
This latest delay continues a worrying pattern. The 2020 Wafcon was canceled entirely due to Covid-19, and the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations was postponed until early 2022. The 2024 Wafcon, won by Nigeria, was only held in July 2025 because of scheduling conflicts, including the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Wafcon is the second continental tournament in just over a year to be postponed at short notice. The 2024 African Nations Championship was pushed back just 18 days before it was due to start in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, after Caf said infrastructure and facilities required more time to meet standards. The tournament eventually took place in August 2025.
For players, coaches, and fans, last-minute postponements disrupt preparation, travel, and planning, while raising broader questions about governance and readiness in African football, particularly in the women’s game. As the rescheduled Wafcon approaches, attention will be on whether the tournament can proceed smoothly and provide a platform for African women’s football on the global stage.
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