The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the 2026 edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will take place later than initially planned, with the tournament now scheduled for July and August in Morocco.
CAF originally awarded the hosting rights for the continental showpiece to Morocco in October 2024, marking the second consecutive time the North African nation will stage the competition.
At the time of the announcement, the tournament had been pencilled in to run from 17 March to 3 April 2026.
However, following discussions with partners including FIFA and other key stakeholders, CAF has opted to adjust the dates in order to ensure optimal conditions for the tournament.
The revised schedule will now see WAFCON 2026 take place from 25 July to 16 August 2026.
CAF indicated that the decision was taken in light of certain “unforeseen circumstances”, with the governing body prioritising the long-term success and organisation of one of the continent’s most important women’s competitions.
While CAF did not elaborate extensively on the specific factors behind the change, such adjustments are not uncommon in international football, particularly when calendar coordination with global competitions, commercial partners and broadcasters comes into play.
Morocco has increasingly positioned itself as a major hub for African football events in recent years. The country successfully hosted the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which proved to be a landmark edition for the women’s game on the continent, both in terms of organisation and record-breaking attendance figures.
That tournament also marked a historic moment for Moroccan women’s football, with the Atlas Lionesses reaching the final and qualifying for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup, highlighting the rapid growth of the women’s game in the country.
With preparations for the 2026 edition already underway, CAF has expressed confidence that Morocco will once again deliver a tournament capable of further elevating women’s football across Africa.
The later timing could also provide several national teams with additional preparation time as many federations continue investing in the professionalisation and development of their women’s programmes.
For several emerging teams on the continent, WAFCON represents not only a battle for continental glory but also a crucial platform to showcase the progress being made in women’s football structures.
The upcoming edition is expected to feature Africa’s strongest sides, including regular contenders such as Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco, while a number of rising nations are also aiming to make a mark as the competitive level of the tournament continues to improve.
For South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, the tournament will carry added significance as they look to defend the title they famously won in Morocco in 2022 — the nation’s first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
CAF’s decision to move the tournament to mid-year could also align more effectively with domestic and international calendars, potentially allowing players competing abroad greater availability to represent their national teams.
With just over a year until kickoff under the new timeline, attention will now turn to qualification and final preparations as teams across the continent aim to secure their place at Africa’s premier women’s football event.
CAF’s communications department reiterated that preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 are progressing steadily, with all stakeholders confident the tournament will be a success.
