Morocco to host expanded 16-team Women’s AFCON after last-minute date switch

Morocco will stage a historic expanded Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in 2026, hosting the continent’s premier women’s football tournament for a third straight edition despite a controversial last-minute change of dates by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The competition will now take place from 26 July to 16 August 2026, after having originally been scheduled for 17 March to 3 April. The late rescheduling – announced just 12 days before the initial kick-off – sparked anger among several national teams who were already deep into their pre-tournament training camps.

CAF has said the decision followed talks with “partners and other stakeholders” and was driven by a desire “to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, taking into account certain unforeseen circumstances.” However, the governing body has not given a detailed public explanation, and the true reasons for the switch remain unclear.

The 2026 tournament will be the 14th edition of the Women’s AFCON and the first to feature 16 teams, up from 12 in 2022 and eight before that. The expansion underlines CAF’s stated ambition to accelerate the development of women’s football across Africa.

Late reprieve for four teams as field expanded

The move to a 16-nation format has had an immediate impact on the line-up. Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mali and Egypt – all previously eliminated in qualifying – were reinstated in November 2025 on the basis of their position in the FIFA women’s rankings.

The tournament will also see landmark debuts. Cape Verde, enjoying a notable rise across African football this year, and Malawi will both appear at the Women’s AFCON for the first time in their history.

Morocco’s own Lionesses of the Atlas will be joined by the likes of Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mali, as well as other leading sides from across the continent, in a field that CAF hopes will showcase greater competitive depth than ever before.

World Cup 2027 places on the line

The stakes in Morocco will go far beyond the continental title. The four semi-finalists will qualify directly for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Two further African nations will have another route to the global stage via intercontinental play-offs, meaning six African teams could ultimately feature at the World Cup if they come through those additional qualifiers.

This qualification pathway is expected to sharpen competition from the group stage onward, with World Cup berths now firmly tied to a deep run at the tournament.

Host cities, stadiums and match timings

The 2026 Women’s AFCON will be played across six stadiums, most of which were also used for the 2025 men’s AFCON.

The Stade Moulay El Hassan in Rabat has been designated to host the opening match and is a strong candidate to stage the final, unless CAF opts once again for the larger Stade Moulay Abdellah – the venue used for the men’s final earlier in the year.

Unlike the 2024 Women’s AFCON (played in 2025), where the eastern cities of Berkane and Oujda hosted fixtures, the 2026 edition will be more geographically concentrated. All matches will be held in and around Rabat and Casablanca, with CAF and local organisers aiming for tighter logistics, better broadcast operations and more consistent attendances.

Match times will follow local Moroccan time (GMT+1). Fans in France will need to add one hour to the published schedule.

Group A spotlight on Rabat

CAF has already begun building anticipation around the host nation’s group, heavily promoting Group A – which will be based in Rabat – on its digital platforms.

“Rabat is ready for the stars of Group A. Who will make the biggest impact? 🌟🇲🇦#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2026,” read a recent post, underlining Morocco’s central role both as host and as a leading contender on home soil.

The full fixture list – including matches for Morocco’s Lionesses of the Atlas, as well as Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mali – is expected to be keenly followed, with the expanded format guaranteeing more games and increased visibility for women’s football across the continent.

Tensions over timing and CAF–Morocco relations

The abrupt postponement of the tournament to the summer was poorly received in many national set-ups, with federations and coaches forced to tear up training plans and renegotiate player release with clubs.

Several squads were already in camp or en route to Morocco when the decision was confirmed, prompting frustration at what has been seen in some quarters as a lack of consultation and clarity.

There has also been speculation that recent tensions between CAF and the Moroccan federation, following incidents around the final of the 2025 men’s AFCON, may have played a role in the timing and communication of the decision. Relations between the two sides are understood to have improved since then, with both parties now presenting a united front around the organisation of the women’s tournament.

A platform for African women’s football

For Morocco, hosting a third consecutive Women’s AFCON cements its status as one of the main hubs for the women’s game in Africa, building on strong home support and investment in facilities.

For CAF, the 16-team format, broader qualification stakes and concentrated hosting plan are being presented as key steps in turning the Women’s AFCON into a flagship event with greater competitive balance, commercial appeal and global reach.

As one African football writer, Romain Lantheaume, has previously reflected on his own journey into the game: he “fell in love with African football with Didier Drogba” and then discovered Afrik-Foot in 2013, a relationship in which, as he put it, “we have never let go of each other since.” Organisers will be hoping that millions of new fans can form a similar bond with African women’s football when the continent’s best players take to the pitch in Morocco in 2026.