The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the postponement of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, shifting the tournament from its original March schedule to a new window between July and August.
CAF confirmed the decision on Thursday, bringing an end to weeks of uncertainty surrounding the competition.
According to the revised schedule, the tournament will now be held from July 25 to August 16, 2026, following consultations between CAF, FIFA, and other stakeholders involved in organising the event. The competition had earlier been slated to take place from March 17 to April 3.
CAF explained that the change was made to ensure the smooth organisation of Africa’s premier women’s football tournament.
In a statement, the football governing body said that after discussions with FIFA and other partners, it was decided that rescheduling the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to July 25–August 16, 2026, would help guarantee the success of the tournament in light of certain unforeseen circumstances.
The organisation also noted that preparations for the competition are ongoing and expressed confidence that the event will meet expectations.
Morocco was granted hosting rights for the 2026 tournament in October 2024, but concerns had recently emerged over the readiness of several aspects of the competition.
Some key logistical arrangements were still unresolved ahead of the initial kickoff date, including confirmation of venues for the knockout stages. Accreditation processes for journalists, match officials, and technical workshops were also yet to be finalised, while promotional activities surrounding the tournament had remained limited.