The Confederation of African Football has postponed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, moving the continental championship from its original March window to a mid-year schedule.
CAF confirmed on Thursday that the tournament will now run from 25 July to 16 August 2026, replacing the earlier dates of 17 March to 3 April. The governing body said the decision was taken after what it described as “unforeseen circumstances”.
The announcement arrived less than two weeks before the opening match was expected to take place in Morocco, forcing teams and organisers to adjust plans for the revised calendar.
Morocco remains the expected host nation for the tournament, which will mark the 14th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. CAF indicated that preparations are continuing and did not signal any change of venue.
The North African country has hosted the previous two editions of the competition and is set to stage the finals for the third consecutive time.
The tournament will feature 16 national teams, an expansion from the previous format of 12 sides. The larger field reflects CAF’s efforts to broaden participation in the women’s championship across the continent.
Morocco enters the competition hoping to convert home advantage into a first continental title. The Atlas Lionesses finished runners-up in the previous two tournaments, falling short of lifting the trophy despite strong campaigns on home soil.
Nigeria arrive as the defending champions, having secured their tenth Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in 2024. The Super Falcons remain the most successful team in the history of the competition and are expected to be among the leading contenders again when the finals begin.
The tournament carries additional significance because it will also determine Africa’s representatives at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Under the qualification structure attached to the competition, four African teams will secure direct qualification for the World Cup. Two additional teams will enter the inter-continental playoff round, where they will compete for the remaining places in the global tournament.
With World Cup spots on the line, the competition is expected to attract strong attention from across the continent despite the disruption to the schedule.
Uncertainty had already surrounded the tournament before CAF confirmed the postponement. Reports circulating in recent weeks suggested that Morocco’s hosting status could change, creating anxiety among teams and supporters.
At one stage, comments attributed to officials in South Africa suggested the country might step in as an alternative host. South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie later clarified the remarks made by his deputy after the statements triggered speculation about a potential venue change.
CAF’s statement announcing the postponement did not address the speculation about a change of host nation. The organisation said only that preparations for the tournament are continuing.
Before the postponement, CAF had already conducted the group stage draw on 15 January, outlining the match-ups for the expanded 16-team competition. However, the governing body had not yet released the full match schedule for the tournament.
The latest delay has again placed attention on the scheduling challenges surrounding major women’s football competitions in Africa.
The women’s championship experienced a significant disruption earlier in the decade when the 2020 edition was cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic. That cancellation interrupted the tournament cycle and left teams without continental competition for that period.
The most recent tournament also faced scheduling complications. The 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which Nigeria won, was eventually staged in July 2025 after conflicts with other international sporting events, including the Paris Olympic Games.
The postponement of the 2026 edition also follows another recent adjustment within CAF’s competition calendar. The African Nations Championship scheduled for 2025 was postponed shortly before its planned kickoff after organisers said additional time was required to prepare stadium infrastructure and facilities.
That tournament was eventually played later in the year after the delay.
CAF stated that the decision to move the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations was taken to ensure the success of the competition, though the organisation did not provide further details about the circumstances behind the change.
Teams that had been preparing for a March tournament will now redirect their focus to the revised July start, with continental honours and World Cup qualification places waiting at the end of Africa’s flagship women’s football championship.
There’s a war in the Middle East. Its World War 3. And you want to take your citizens who aren’t even soldiers there? Nikufunta
Give it to Zambia to host. South Africa can host one half