The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially postponed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), putting to rest weeks of uncertainty surrounding the tournament.
In a statement released on Thursday, CAF announced that the competition, initially scheduled to be held in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, will now take place from July 25 to August 16, 2026.
CAF recalled that Morocco was granted the hosting rights for the tournament in October 2024, with the original dates fixed earlier for the continental showpiece.
However, the governing body explained that the adjustment followed consultations with key stakeholders.
“After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF decided to reschedule the dates of the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026 to 25 July – 16 August 2026 to ensure the success of this important women’s competition in light of certain unforeseen circumstances,” the statement said.
CAF also noted that preparations for the championship remain ongoing and expressed confidence that the tournament will be successfully delivered.
The postponement comes after weeks of speculation over the competition, including remarks from South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, who alleged that Morocco was uncertain about hosting the event and said South Africa was prepared to step in if required.
For Nigeria’s Super Falcons, the revised schedule offers more time to prepare for the tournament. The reigning champions recently played two international friendlies against Cameroon in Yaounde as part of their build-up.
Nigeria lost the first match 1–0 but responded strongly with a 3–1 victory in the second encounter.
The Super Falcons remain the most successful team in the history of the competition, having won the title a record 10 times.
Their most recent triumph came in the last edition when they defeated hosts Morocco 3–2 in a thrilling final.
The stakes for the 2026 edition are particularly high, as the tournament will also serve as Africa’s qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The top four teams at WAFCON will qualify automatically for the World Cup, while two additional teams will compete in inter-confederation playoffs for the remaining spots.
With the new schedule now confirmed, participating teams across Africa are expected to adjust their preparations as the continent’s flagship women’s football tournament shifts to a mid-year window in 2026.
