CAF Moves Women's Cup of Nations to July with Hosting Questions Still Unanswered

The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations has been pushed back from March to July, the Confederation of African Football confirmed on Thursday, a decision that comes just twelve days before the tournament had been due to begin.

CAF cited "unforeseen circumstances" for the postponement, announcing that the expanded 16-team finals will now run from 25 July to 16 August. The governing body said the delay was necessary to "ensure the success of this important women's competition" but offered no further explanation, leaving significant questions unanswered — not least whether Morocco will retain hosting rights.

Morocco had been set to stage a third successive edition of the tournament, but speculation about the country's appetite to host had been building for weeks, intensified by the chaotic scenes at the 2025 men's AFCON final in Rabat. South Africa's Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie was drawn into the controversy in February after his deputy suggested Pretoria was in line to take over as hosts — remarks he was quickly forced to walk back.

It is the second continental tournament the governing body has moved at short notice in fourteen months, following the last-minute delay to the 2024 African Nations Championship. The 2020 WAFCON was cancelled entirely due to COVID-19.

This year's tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. The Copper Queens are already in camp, with coach Nora Häuptle having named a 29-player provisional squad ahead of the originally scheduled March start.