CAF President Patrice Motsepe admitted today, February 13, 2026, that the continental governing body is still in “engagement” with Morocco despite the tournament being just weeks away in a major development that has cast uncertainty over the future of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Speaking at a high-stakes press conference following a CAF Executive Committee meeting at the Hyatt Regency, Motsepe’s guarded language has fueled speculation that the North African nation’s hosting rights are far from secure.
The controversy centers on whether Morocco—which hosted the 2022 and 2024 editions—is prepared or willing to stage the event for a third consecutive time.
“Morocco came to assist,” Motsepe told reporters, highlighting that CAF’s standards were exceptionally high and preparation time was short.
While he acknowledged that many other countries remain interested in hosting, his confirmation that CAF is still in active negotiations with Morocco suggests a possible breakdown in the original hosting agreement.
The timing of these remarks is particularly critical, as the 16-team tournament is officially scheduled to kick off on March 17, 2026.
The event serves as the primary qualifying path for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, making any delay or relocation a logistical nightmare for participating teams.
Earlier this month, confusion erupted when South African officials claimed they had been asked to step in as hosts following a Moroccan withdrawal, though South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie later clarified that no formal decision had been activated.
Motsepe’s statements in Tanzania have done little to quell the unease. While he reiterated that Morocco remains the designated host “as we speak now,” his mention of other “interested” nations indicates that CAF is considering contingencies.
“Morocco came to assist. There were many countries that wanted to host it [the 2026 WAFcON]. Because we didn’t have time, our standards were very high. There are still many countries interested [but] as we speak now, we still have an engagement with Morocco.”
Rumors of Morocco’s potential withdrawal have been linked to lingering tensions following the chaotic 2025 Men’s AFCON final, though neither CAF nor the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has officially confirmed such a move.
