POSTPONED: CAF confirms new dates for WAFCON 2026

The Confédération Africaine de Football has officially broken its silence regarding the scheduling of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), confirming that the tournament will no longer take place this month.

CAF Reschedules the Dates of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup (“WAFCON”) 2026, to 25 July – 16 August 2026https://t.co/jSJLn0im4s

— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) March 5, 2026

In a statement released on Thursday, 05 March 2026, the continental body announced that the competition has been rescheduled from its original March window to a new slot running from 25 July to 16 August 2026.

Official: Morocco to host WAFCON in July

This decision follows weeks of mounting tension and public criticism regarding the lack of preparation and communication surrounding the initial March 17 kickoff. CAF cited “unforeseen circumstances” and extensive discussions with FIFA and other stakeholders as the primary reasons for the delay, emphasising that the shift is necessary to ensure the ultimate success of the showpiece women’s event.

The announcement effectively addresses the uncertainty highlighted by South African Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie, who recently slammed the lack of marketing and planning as a sign of disdain for the women’s game. McKenzie had publicly offered South Africa as a “super-sub” host, claiming the country was ready to step in at short notice to save the tournament from what he described as an embarrassing situation for CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

Despite the speculation that Morocco might withdraw as hosts due to reported tensions following the 2025 men’s Afcon, CAF has reaffirmed its confidence in the North African nation. Preparations are said to be back underway for the mid-year tournament, which remains the primary qualifying path for African nations seeking a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

CAF Full Statement on WAFCON

“In October 2024, the Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) granted the hosting rights for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (“WAFCON”) 2026 to Morocco, and this tournament was scheduled for 17 March to 3 April 2026,” said CAF.

“After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAFdecided to reschedule the dates of the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026, to 25 July – 16 August 2026; to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances.

“Preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026 are underway, and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful.”

With the new July dates now set, member associations and coaches finally have the clarity needed to begin logistical arrangements and player call-ups for the continent’s most prestigious women’s football competition.