Moulay El Hassan set to host Cameroon v Malawi in Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 final between Cameroon and Malawi will be played at Stade Moulay El Hassan in Rabat, after Morocco’s elimination removed the main reason for considering the much larger Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah.

CAF had not officially confirmed the venue in the days leading up to Sunday’s final. Its tournament schedule, published on the organisation’s official website and social media channels, continued to list both Rabat stadiums as possible locations for the match.

The final had been poised to take place either at Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, which can accommodate 69,500 spectators, or at Stade Moulay El Hassan, whose capacity is 22,000.

The larger stadium hosted the final of the men’s Africa Cup of Nations in January and was regarded as the preferred option if the host nation reached the championship match. Stade Moulay El Hassan, meanwhile, had already staged six games during the women’s tournament, including Morocco’s matches through to the semi-finals.

It is unusual for the venue of a continental final to remain uncertain so close to the match. In this case, the decision was driven less by operational concerns than by Morocco’s progress in the competition.

Had Morocco reached the final, the match was expected to be moved to Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah. The venue would have offered the home supporters a significantly larger setting, while also giving organisers the chance to maximise attendance, atmosphere and revenue.

However, Cameroon defeated Morocco in the semi-final, winning 3-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw. That result left a Cameroon-Malawi final without the host nation and meant Stade Moulay El Hassan became the more practical choice. The two finalists were the sides to announce the venue.

Stade Moulay El Hassan is a newly built urban sports complex constructed on the historic site of Fath Union Sport (FUS). It opened in November 2025 after the former stadium was demolished and rebuilt entirely to meet the standards required of tournament venues.

The ground hosted group-stage matches and a last-16 tie at the men’s Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. Although smaller than Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, it has already been used extensively during the current women’s competition.

Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, by contrast, is one of Morocco’s major sporting landmarks. It opened in September 2025 with room for 69,500 people, making it the second-largest stadium at the men’s Africa Cup of Nations, behind the venue in Tangier. It then staged the men’s final in January.

The stadium was built as part of Morocco’s preparations to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup and reflects the country’s ambitions on the international football stage.

CAF’s decision to keep both venues available until late in the tournament allowed it to avoid committing prematurely. Selecting the smaller ground before Morocco’s semi-final would have risked appearing to “snober” the host nation, while choosing a 69,500-capacity stadium for a final without Morocco could have resulted in a visibly sparse crowd.

Morocco’s matches had generally struggled to fill Stade Moulay El Hassan. Fewer than 19,000 spectators attended the semi-final, while matches involving other nations were often played in a notably subdued atmosphere.

Keeping both options open was therefore a pragmatic organisational measure, giving CAF flexibility while the host country’s position in the competition remained undecided.