The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON)in Morocco just weeks before the tournament was scheduled to begin, citing “unforeseen circumstances” as the reason for the change.
Originally planned to run from March 17 to April 3, 2026, the competition will now take place from July 25 to August 16, 2026, according to a statement issued by CAF on Wednesday.
The tournament also serves as Africa’s qualifying event for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. With the new schedule, the competition will be held shortly after the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
CAF explained that the decision followed consultations with FIFA, commercial partners, and other key stakeholdersto ensure the successful organization of the tournament.
Despite the postponement, the football body said preparations for the biennial championship are ongoing, expressing confidence that the tournament will be successful.
Morocco was awarded the hosting rights for the competition in October 2024 and also hosted the previous edition.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons, who have won the title 10 times, are the defending champions. They have been drawn in Group C alongside Zambia, Malawi, and Egypt in the 16-team tournament.
As part of preparations, the Super Falcons recently faced Cameroon in an international friendly, securing victory in Yaoundé after losing the first leg of the two-match series.
Coach Justin Madugu’s side will be aiming to reach at least the semi-finals of the tournament to secure one of Africa’s qualification spots for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to hold in Brazil from June 24 to July 25, 2027.
