The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) just 12 days before it was supposed to start in Morocco.
CAF said the delay was due to “unforeseen circumstances.” The tournament, which was originally planned for 17 March to 3 April, will now run from 25 July to 16 August.
These finals also act as qualifiers for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Morocco was set to host for the third time in a row, but questions about its readiness have led to speculation that the venue might change.
The sudden change has sparked new debate about how CAF manages women’s football. WAFCON has faced several disruptions recently.
The 2020 edition was cancelled because of COVID-19, the 2024 tournament was pushed to 2025, and now the 2026 finals have also been changed with little warning.
Last year, CAF postponed the African Nations Championship just 18 days before it was supposed to begin because of infrastructure problems.
Former Nigeria captain Desire Oparanozie expressed disappointment at the recent development, stating that women’s football receives less attention than the men’s game.
“It’s disappointing that we’re depending so much on Morocco,” she said, encouraging CAF to evaluate alternative hosts to address recurring challenges.
Oparanozie asserted that the situation may affect player morale after extensive preparation.
Teams like Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ghana had stepped up their training with international friendlies. Ghana’s Black Queens were touring the United Arab Emirates. The postponement has left them uncertain about what comes next.
Travel worries have grown because of airspace closures in the Middle East. Ghana’s media officer, Matilda Dzifo Dimedo, said the squad is safe and will keep training until new travel plans are set. Rations are underway to support the rescheduled tournament.
The delay has raised renewed discussion about the organization and future of women’s football in Africa.
