The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), scheduled to start on March 17 in Morocco with 16 teams, was postponed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) just 12 days before kickoff. CAF said the delay was due to “unforeseen circumstances” but offered no detailed explanation, prompting speculation and frustration.
Rumors linked the decision to strained relations between Morocco and CAF after the controversial men’s AFCON final in January — a match that ended with Senegal walking off the pitch in protest over a penalty before Morocco lost 1-0 — and to clashes with Morocco’s domestic league calendar for stadium use. CAF head of communications Luxolo September described the cause as “a combination of factors,” saying Morocco had requested the postponement and that extensive discussions had taken place between Morocco, FIFA and CAF about the dates.
Teams, coaches, fans and journalists criticized the late timing. Kenya U-20 head coach Jackline Juma said the delay was unfair after long preparation and recent friendlies. Vicki Huyton of the Female Coaching Network stressed that 12 days out is when teams fine-tune tactics and morale, and player agent Collins Okonyo noted fans and press had already booked travel and accommodation, calling the situation disorganized.
CAF defended its handling, saying the announcement came late because all parties were trying to find common ground and that the priority was to stage the tournament under the best possible conditions rather than simply “tick a box.”
There had been signs of trouble earlier: South African politicians suggested their country could host at short notice if Morocco was unready, with former sport minister Gayton McKenzie emphasizing South Africa’s readiness and unwillingness to let women’s football be mistreated. Morocco had previously been due to host WAFCON in 2024 but the event was delayed to avoid clashing with the Paris Olympics, fueling accusations that CAF undervalues the women’s game.
CAF rejects charges of neglect, pointing to investments under president Patrice Motsepe — including raising women’s prize money from $100,000 to $1 million and introducing the Women’s Champions League — as evidence of commitment to women’s football.
Some see a silver lining: the postponement to July could allow injured players to recover and give teams time to repair internal issues, as reported in South African media. But coaches like Huyton caution that major tournaments have set cycles and teams structure multi-year preparations around those dates.
Edited by: Chuck Penfold