A ‘combination of factors’ behind postponement

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) had originally been due to kick off on March 17, with 16 nations from all over the continent set to compete in Morocco. But just 12 days before the opening game, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), postponed its biggest women’s football tournament until July.

In a statement, the body cited “unforeseen circumstances” but gave no details for the decision. In the absence of an explanation, rumors were soon circulating among fans and journalists alike. 

One rumor had it that the relationship between hosts Morocco and CAF had been severely damaged by events that occurred during the controversial final of the men’s tournament in January. Hosts Morrocco lost the final 1-0 to Senegal, whose coach had earlier led his team off the pitch in protest at a penalty decision. It was also noted that the WAFCON’s original schedule clashed with Morocco’s domestic league for which stadiums were needed.

“It is a combination of factors and it is not a decision taken lightly,” Luxolo September, CAF’s head of communications, told DW in an effort to set the record straight.

“There is a question of the host nation Morocco, requesting a postponement for a number of reasons. There has been a lot of interaction between Morocco, FIFA and CAF regarding the date. This is not a nice position for us, we have taken no joy from this. We would have loved to play in this window, it is a window we had requested.”

Bad timing

There’s been an outcry about how long CAF waited to make a decision. 

“The teams had prepared, the teams had played a lot of friendly matches, so it was such a short time and just unfair” Jackline Juma told DW. As head coach of Kenya‘s U-20 women she had an up-close view of the disruption the delay caused to the senior team.

Kenya has just played friendly games against Ivory Coast and Benin, while Nigeria was in Cameroon and Ghana had held a training camp in Dubai.

“Twelve days out, your team is ready to go, you are fine-tuning the last little bits, you are making sure the players understand what their roles are going to be,” Vicki Huyton, founder of the Female Coaching Network, told DW.

“It’s about keeping the team morale, so 12 days out, the teams have spent one or two years, the hard work is done.”

It is not just the teams and the players who were about to travel to Morocco – fans and journalists are complaining at being left out of pocket.

“People had booked the hotels, press had booked their hotels,” Collins Okonyo, a player agent, told DW.

“It shows how disorganized you are. CAF should sit down and bring their house in order.”

CAF spokesperson September rejects this criticism, insisting that they did all they could to avoid a postponement.

“The announcement came very late as all the parties were trying to find common ground that would advance the situation and ensure that the competition continues as it must,” he said.

“It is important for CAF that the tournament is played in the best possible conditions, we don’t just tick a box.”

Weeks of uncertainty

The postponement did not come as a complete surprise. As early as February, a South African politician said that her country could step in to host at short notice. The day before the announcement, the minister of sport for 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa, Gayton McKenzie, made a similar statement.

“If they are not ready, we want to tell them we are not a country with no stadiums or infrastructure… We will not allow women’s football to be treated this way,” he said.

It is not the first time that WAFCON has been moved. Morocco had originally been due to host the tournament in 2024, but as it coincided with the Paris Olympics, it was delayed by a year – also at short notice. This and the latest postponement has led to accusations that CAF does not value women’s football as much as it does the men’s game.

“I don’t think AFCON men would be postponed, they are not treating women’s football with the respect that it deserves,” Juma said.

“It’s so frustrating and disappointing for women’s football in Africa, to postpone for no tangible reason. It’s very discouraging, women’s football is not as respected as men’s football.”

It is a charge that CAF denies.

“The facts speak for themselves,” September said.

“Look at the investment, don’t look at what people say. When the current president [Patrice Motsepe] of CAF arrived, he took the prize money for women’s football from $100,000 to $1 million (€86,000 to €860,000) in the space of four years. He introduced the Women’s Champions League. The advancement of women’s football is one of the top priorities for him and CAF.”

Potential silver lining but no consolation

Despite the late decision, some have tried to put a positive spin on things, noting that some national teams could benefit in terms of injured players being able to return to action by July.  There have also been reports in the South African media that the extra time coulc give the coaching staff there an opportunity to heal divisions that are currently damaging the team.

“If some of the teams have injury issues, it could benefit them,” Huyton conceded.

“But ultimately major tournaments like this have set dates. We are all aware they come around every two or four years and every team and coach works towards that.”

Edited by: Chuck Penfold