CAF reaffirms Morocco as host of WAFCON 2026
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reaffirmed that Morocco will host the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026), dismissing speculation that the tournament could be postponed or moved to another country.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe addressed the issue after an Executive Committee meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, saying the competition remains on schedule and will run from 17 March to 3 April 2026.
The statement follows days of rumour across African football circles, driven partly by reports suggesting Morocco had concerns about the timing of the tournament and that alternative hosts might be considered. But Motsepe’s message on Friday was direct: WAFCON 2026 is not being postponed, and Morocco remains the host.
In Motsepe’s words, there were discussions and competing calendar pressures, yet Morocco “came to assist,” and CAF is maintaining its engagement with the North African country to deliver the tournament within its planned window.
For Nigeria and other nations preparing for qualifiers and squad planning, the clarity matters. WAFCON is not just a trophy chase; it is also a major pathway into global competitions and a defining stage for women’s football on the continent. A shift in dates or venue would have had knock-on effects for domestic leagues, club commitments, and national team calendars.
CAF reaffirms Morocco as host of WAFCON 2026, and that confirmation shuts down the most disruptive part of the rumour cycle: the idea that the tournament would be delayed because CAF could not lock down a host.
Why postponement rumours gained traction
The postponement talk did not appear from nowhere. In early February, some media reports described “confusion” around WAFCON 2026 hosting, with claims that Morocco was reconsidering timelines and that South Africa had signalled willingness to step in if needed.
Other reports suggested Morocco’s football authorities had raised concerns about domestic scheduling pressure and asked CAF about shifting dates. While CAF did not publicly validate every detail of those claims, Motsepe’s comments acknowledge that “discussion” was happening and that CAF’s standards and timelines shaped its decision-making.
That context matters because it explains what Motsepe was responding to: not simply gossip, but a wider calendar squeeze and host readiness concerns that often shape CAF competitions.
Still, the bottom line remains unchanged. CAF reaffirms Morocco as host of WAFCON 2026, and the competition stays fixed to the March 17 to April 3 window.
Motsepe: Morocco remains engaged
Motsepe’s tone in Dar es Salaam suggested appreciation for Morocco’s role in keeping the event stable amid competing demands. He noted that many countries wanted to host, but timelines were tight and CAF’s standards were high, so CAF is sticking with Morocco and maintaining engagement.
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Vanguard also reported Motsepe confirming that Morocco will host WAFCON 2026 as originally planned.
This matters because CAF’s public posture often signals whether a tournament is truly settled or still being negotiated behind the scenes. In this case, the headline message is stability: host confirmed, dates confirmed, postponement rejected.
CAF reaffirms Morocco as host of WAFCON 2026, and the statement gives teams and federations a firm planning horizon.
What it means for teams and federations
For the Super Falcons and other contenders, the confirmation brings immediate clarity on three fronts:
- Preparation timelines: National teams can map camps, friendlies, and player release plans around the March–April dates.
- Club-country coordination: European and African clubs can better plan around international windows, reducing last-minute friction.
- Commercial planning: Sponsors, broadcasters, and host-city organisers can lock in activation schedules.
Even beyond football, host certainty is crucial for tourism, transport logistics, and security planning, all of which become more complex when a tournament is moved or postponed.
CAF reaffirms Morocco as host of WAFCON 2026, and for women’s football, that stability helps protect momentum at a time the women’s game is still fighting for consistent investment and visibility across many markets.
The bigger CAF calendar debate, and why WAFCON needed clarity
Motsepe’s remarks came in a week when CAF’s broader competition calendar has been under public scrutiny, including talk around the timing and structure of major tournaments. Reuters reported Motsepe discussing possible changes to AFCON’s future cycle and other governance matters at the same Tanzania stop.
That wider debate helped fuel confusion online, with some fans blending AFCON schedule questions with WAFCON hosting rumours. Motsepe’s confirmation on WAFCON cuts through that mix-up.
CAF reaffirms Morocco as host of WAFCON 2026, and the key takeaway for readers is simple: whatever discussions are happening elsewhere in CAF’s calendar, WAFCON 2026 remains on track.
What to watch next
The next updates fans and federations will look for include:
- confirmed host cities and venues in Morocco,
- match schedule and draw timelines,
- ticketing and broadcast arrangements.
But on the core question of venue and timing, CAF has now drawn a clear line.
CAF reaffirms Morocco as host of WAFCON 2026, rejects postponement talk, and confirms the tournament will run from 17 March to 3 April 2026.
