The Confederation of African Football has postponed the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 only 12 days before the tournament was scheduled to begin in Morocco.
CAF announced the decision in a statement on Thursday, citing “unforeseen circumstances” for the last-minute postponement. The competition was originally scheduled to run from 17 March to 3 April but will now take place from 25 July to 16 August 2026.
The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Morocco had been preparing to host the tournament for a third consecutive time, although recent reports had raised questions about the country’s readiness to stage the event.
The decision has drawn criticism from players and officials who say the repeated postponements highlight a lack of priority given to women’s football in Africa. Former Nigeria captain Desire Oparanozie expressed disappointment, warning the delay could affect teams physically and mentally after months of preparation.
Despite the setback, CAF says preparations are continuing and more details about the competition schedule will be announced soon.
