Banyana coach Desiree Ellis questions CAF over Women’s AFCON confusion

Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has voiced frustration over the persistent uncertainty surrounding the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which is currently scheduled to begin in less than two weeks.

Ellis highlighted a looming logistical crisis that could see national teams forced to release their players just days before the tournament’s supposed kickoff.

The core of the issue lies in the official FIFA international match calendar. While the tournament was originally set for March 17 to April 3 in Morocco, the current window is not recognized as a protected FIFA date for women’s football.

This leaves coaches like Ellis with no legal authority to keep professional players in camp beyond the upcoming weekend.

“Do you think this would happen in the men’s game?” Ellis asked during an interview in South Africa. “If someone is listening, can they just give us a yes or no because after the 7th we can’t keep players in camp. It’s not a FIFA date.”

The lack of communication from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has left all 16 participating nations in a state of limbo.

Reports have circulated for weeks suggesting a possible postponement to August 2026 due to hosting challenges in Morocco, yet no official confirmation has been provided.

The stakes for the competition are exceptionally high, as it serves as the primary qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.