Uncertainity cloud WAFCON 2026 with three weeks to kick start tournament

With fewer than three weeks to the scheduled kick-off of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), uncertainty continues to swirl around the tournament as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) remains publicly silent on whether the competition will proceed as planned.

The confusion deepened following recent remarks by South Africa’s vice-minister and growing speculation over a possible postponement.

Yet during a virtual meeting convened last Monday by CAF’s media department with communications officers from member associations, officials reportedly offered no clear answers on the status of the tournament.

Notably, no preparatory workshops were organised — a departure from standard procedure ahead of major continental events.

The lack of clarity comes amid internal turbulence within CAF. At a recent Executive Committee meeting described by sources as tense, CAF president Patrice Motsepe is said not to have addressed the Women’s AFCON during deliberations, mentioning it only later when speaking to the press in an apparent attempt to calm fears.

Host nation Morocco has, for weeks, indicated internally that it would be unable to stage the tournament in March. Officials have pointed to logistical constraints and stadium availability issues linked to domestic men’s competitions, as well as existing commitments during the international window — including the sixth edition of “Morocco, Capital of African Football,” a separate event set to feature eight teams in Casablanca and Rabat.

Faced with these complications, CAF is understood to have quietly explored contingency options. South Africa was approached as a potential alternative host, while Algeria was also sounded out informally but declined to step in.

The standoff has reportedly heightened tensions between Motsepe and Royal Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa.

Expectations that CAF would issue an official statement last week have so far gone unmet, further fuelling speculation.

Motsepe has repeatedly insisted that altering the calendar is not feasible due to the upcoming Women’s World Cup qualifying schedule. Morocco, however, appears unmoved, maintaining that it cannot deliver the tournament under the current timeline.

As the impasse drags on, frustration is growing among participating federations and players, many of whom remain in limbo.

Several voices within the women’s game have criticised what they describe as a lack of transparency and consideration for national teams preparing for Africa’s premier women’s competition.

“It feels like an afterthought,” one international player said while training with her squad, still uncertain whether she will be competing in what should be the continent’s flagship women’s tournament.

The tournament is originally scheduled to kick off from March 17 to April 3, 2026.