Confederation of African Football has officially postponed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to be hosted in Morocco, shifting the tournament from its earlier March timetable to a new window between July 25 and August 16, 2026. CAF confirmed the decision in a statement published on Thursday, bringing an end to weeks of uncertainty surrounding the scheduling of the continent’s premier women’s football competition. The tournament, which Morocco secured hosting rights for in October 2024, was initially slated to take place from March 17 to April 3, 2026. However, CAF said the revised dates were agreed after consultations with FIFA and other key stakeholders involved in organising the event. According to the African football governing body, the adjustment became necessary to guarantee smooth preparations and the overall success of the competition. “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 the light of certain unforeseen circumstances,” the statement said. CAF also expressed confidence that preparations for the tournament were progressing steadily and that the event would ultimately meet expectations. The postponement follows growing concerns over the readiness of several organisational aspects of the tournament ahead of the earlier kickoff date. Key arrangements—including confirmation of venues for knockout matches, accreditation processes for journalists, appointment of match officials and technical workshops—had yet to be finalised, while promotional activities around the competition had also remained limited. For defending champions Nigeria women’s national football team, the revised schedule offers additional time to prepare for their title defence. The team recently concluded a two-match friendly series against Cameroon women’s national football team in Yaoundé, losing the first leg 1–0 before bouncing back with a 3–1 victory in the return fixture. The 2026 Women’s AFCON will also serve as a qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 to be hosted in Brazil. Under the qualification format, the four semi-finalists will earn automatic spots at the global tournament, while an additional African team will have a chance to qualify through an intercontinental play-off.
CAF Postpones 2026 Women’s AFCON to July–August Window
