CAF has officially postponed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, moving the tournament from its original March schedule to a new window between July and August.
The continental football governing body confirmed the decision in a statement released on its website on Thursday, bringing an end to weeks of uncertainty about the competition.
The tournament, which Morocco secured the hosting rights for in October 2024, will now take place from July 25 to August 16 after consultations between CAF, FIFA, and other key stakeholders involved in organising the event.
It had originally been scheduled to run from March 17 to April 3.
CAF said the adjustment was necessary to ensure the smooth organisation of Africa’s premier women’s football tournament.
“After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF decided to reschedule the dates of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 to 25 July – 16 August 2026 to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, in light of certain unforeseen circumstances,” the organisation stated.
The governing body also expressed confidence that preparations are progressing well and that the tournament will meet expectations.
“Preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 are underway and all parties are confident that it will be very successful,” the statement added.
The announcement follows growing concerns about the readiness of the competition, as several pre-tournament arrangements had not been finalised ahead of the initial kickoff date. Details such as venues for the knockout rounds, accreditation for journalists, match officials, and technical workshops were still pending, while promotional activities surrounding the tournament had been limited.
For defending champions Nigeria women’s national football team, the revised schedule could provide extra time to prepare for their title defence.
The Super Falcons recently completed a two-match friendly series against Cameroon women’s national football team in Yaoundé, losing the first match 1-0 before responding with a 3-1 victory in the second encounter.
The tournament will also serve as Africa’s qualification pathway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Under the qualification format, the four semi-finalists will secure automatic places at the global tournament, while another African team will have a chance to qualify through an intercontinental play-off.
