Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reaffirmed Morocco as the host nation for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), firmly dismissing speculation about a possible postponement or change of venue.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe addressed the rumours following a CAF Executive Committee meeting in Dar es Salaam, confirming that the tournament will go ahead as scheduled from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
“There is discussion taking place and many competitions,” Motsepe said. “Morocco stepped in to assist. Several countries wanted to host, but because of time constraints and our very high standards, Morocco was selected. WAFCON continues, and our engagement with Morocco is ongoing.”
Motsepe stressed that altering the tournament dates was not an option, noting its importance in the international calendar. “We can’t change the date because it is part of the qualification pathway for the Women’s World Cup. WAFCON will continue and it will be successful,” he added.
The clarification follows comments that sparked confusion after South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture suggested the country could step in to host the competition, citing stadium readiness and experience in staging major events.
However, South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie later played down the claims, saying no formal decision had been taken to replace Morocco. He explained that South Africa’s position was merely a contingency offer and that any change in hosting rights would require formal CAF approval and government clearance.
The Morocco-hosted tournament will also serve as part of the qualification process for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, further underlining the need to adhere to the fixed schedule.
The 2026 edition will mark the third consecutive Women’s Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Morocco, following the 2022 and 2024 tournaments, reinforcing the country’s growing role as a hub for women’s football on the continent.
