Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026: Delayed Morocco finals begin under cloud of confusion and criticism

The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finally kicks off in Morocco on Sunday, four months later than originally scheduled, after a chaotic and opaque rescheduling process that has angered teams and raised questions over the treatment of women’s football on the continent.

Algeria and Senegal open the expanded 16-team tournament in Rabat on 26 July, a competition that was initially due to run from 17 March to 3 April. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) only confirmed the postponement on 5 March – just 12 days before the planned start date – leaving qualified nations facing uncertainty over preparation, logistics and budgets.

CAF said in a brief statement that the finals had been moved to 25 July–16 August because of “unforeseen circumstances”, without giving any detailed explanation. That lack of clarity, and the lateness of the decision, has fuelled criticism of CAF’s handling of the event and highlighted wider concerns about the place of women’s football in African sporting priorities.

Confusion over host nation and dates

The turmoil began on 1 February when Peace Mabe, South Africa’s deputy minister for Sport, Arts and Culture, prematurely and incorrectly claimed that South Africa would replace Morocco as host nation for the 2026 edition.

Her declaration, made in haste and without confirmation from CAF, created immediate confusion across the continent. For several weeks, it was unclear whether the tournament would remain in Morocco or move to South Africa, and whether the dates would change.

On 5 March, after what it described as consultations with FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF finally announced that the competition would not only stay in Morocco but also be pushed back to a new window from 25 July to 16 August. No alternative host was named and no public link was made between Mabe’s comments and the eventual decision.

Teams prepare in the dark

By the time CAF officially altered the schedule, several national teams had already begun training camps, booked travel and accommodation, and committed significant funds to their March plans.

Some squads continued working as if the tournament would start on 17 March, simply because they had received no formal communication indicating otherwise. That period of silence from CAF compounded logistical and financial strains on federations with limited resources.

Moroccan sources say the host nation had in fact warned CAF several weeks earlier that staging the competition in March would be difficult. They cite logistical constraints, including the continuation of domestic competitions and prior bookings at key sports facilities.

Casablanca, for example, was due to welcome a number of foreign teams for events linked to African football, further complicating venue availability for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations within the original timeframe.

Congested calendar and abandoned alternatives

The continental women’s calendar was already under pressure. The 2026 finals come only a year after the delayed 2024 edition, while also serving as the African qualifying tournament for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe is understood to have initially pushed to stick to the March dates to avoid worsening congestion in the international calendar. At one stage, the possibility of moving the tournament to Algeria was discussed, but that option did not materialise.

Moroccan officials have since stressed that “the Kingdom” never refused to host the competition, keen to protect the country’s reputation as a reliable organiser. Morocco is staging the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the third consecutive time.

CAF has never publicly attributed the change of dates to Morocco’s request or any specific organisational issue. With only a brief reference to “unforeseen circumstances” in its statement, and with other details emerging informally behind the scenes, it remains difficult to pinpoint exactly where responsibility for the delay lies.

South Africa’s angry response

The prolonged silence from CAF before the rescheduling announcement triggered an especially sharp reaction from South Africa.

Sports minister Gayton McKenzie publicly offered for South Africa to take over if Morocco no longer wished to host. He also accused African football leaders of failing to treat women players with respect, declaring: “We do not want women’s football to be treated in this manner. If Morocco does not want to host the tournament, South Africa is ready.”

McKenzie went further by suggesting that tensions between Morocco and CAF arising from the organisation of the 2025 men’s Africa Cup of Nations final might have influenced the case. No evidence has been produced to support that claim, which has been firmly rejected by Moroccan sources, but the allegation added a political dimension to an already sensitive situation.

Football finally takes centre stage

After four additional months of waiting, the 16 qualified nations can now focus on the football itself.

For the first time, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final tournament features 16 teams, split into four groups of four. The top two from each group will progress to the quarter-finals on 8 and 9 August, followed by semi-finals on 12 August and the final on 16 August.

There is more at stake than the continental title. The four semi-finalists will secure Africa’s automatic places at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Nigeria, the reigning champions and 10-time winners, again start as favourites. Yet before a ball is kicked, the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is already etched in memory for its last-minute postponement, sparse communication and the forced overhaul of preparations for every team involved.

Louis Mukoma Fargues