Morocco Requests Postponement as CAF Confirms WAFCON Scheduling Uncertainty

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) was postponed less than three weeks before its scheduled start in Morocco after the Royal Moroccan Football Federation informed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that it could not host the tournament in March. The competition had been due to run from 17 March to 3 April 2026 across Moroccan venues. As of publication, CAF had not issued an official revised calendar.

According to French sports daily, the postponement was agreed following months of internal uncertainty over Morocco’s readiness. The outlet reported that the Moroccan federation requested a delay rather than withdrawing entirely as host.

A separate report from Africa Foot United stated that Morocco had informed CAF internally that it could not stage the competition in March due to logistical constraints. These reportedly included scheduling conflicts with domestic men’s league fixtures and existing international commitments during the March window, including events linked to Morocco’s football calendar in Casablanca and Rabat.

CAF had not published a formal statement on its official website, confirming new dates at the time of writing. During a recent Executive Committee meeting, CAF President Patrice Motsepe did not publicly address the Women’s AFCON calendar in formal proceedings, according to Africa Foot United, though he later reassured media that the tournament would proceed.

The uncertainty intensified in early February when South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Sport, Peace Mabe, suggested her country was prepared to step in. Speaking at the Hollywoodbets Super League Awards, Mabe said South Africa had “the necessary infrastructure” if Morocco were unavailable, as reported by L’Équipe. However, subsequent developments indicated Morocco preferred postponement rather than relinquishing hosting rights.

Africa Foot United also reported that CAF discreetly explored contingency options, including informal discussions with Algeria. No alternative host nation has been confirmed.

The lack of official communication has caused frustration among participating federations. According to Africa Foot United, communication managers from several member associations sought clarification during a recent CAF media department meeting but received no definitive timeline. One unnamed international player preparing for the tournament described the situation as “a lack of respect”, the outlet reported.

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is Africa’s premier women’s international competition and serves as a key pathway to the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The previous edition, held in Morocco in 2022, was won by South Africa, who defeated hosts Morocco 2–1 in the final. Any delay to the 2026 tournament could have implications for international scheduling and World Cup qualification planning, although CAF has not confirmed any changes to qualification structures.

As of publication, neither CAF nor the Royal Moroccan Football Federation had issued an official communiqué confirming revised dates. Further clarification is expected once the governing body publishes an updated competition calendar.