The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially restated that Morocco will continue to serve as the venue for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, putting an end to swirling uncertainties about the event’s location.
Following a key gathering of the CAF Executive Committee in Dar es Salaam, the organization’s leader, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, tackled the speculation head-on in a Friday announcement, confirming the competition’s planned timeframe from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
In response to whispers about potential shifts in organizing the 16th installment of the continent’s premier women’s soccer event, Motsepe said, “There is discussion taking place, and a lot of competitons. Morocco came to assist.”
Motsepe on the selection process, said, “They were many countries that wanted to host it, but because we didn’t have time and our standards were very high. The WAFCON continues, as we speak now, we still have an engagement with Morocco.”
He further highlighted the necessity of maintaining the established schedule, explaining, “We can’t change the date because it is part of the qualification pathway for the Women’s World Cup. WAFCON will continue and it will be successful.”
The mix-up originated from comments by South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, who suggested her country could take over from Morocco, pointing to prepared venues and a track record of managing large-scale gatherings as reasons.
However, South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie, stepped in to clear the air, emphasizing that no official switch had occurred and that Morocco was still designated as the primary organizer.
McKenzie described South Africa’s proposal as merely a backup option rather than an outright substitution, adding that any actual transfer would necessitate endorsement from CAF along with domestic governmental authorization.
Beyond its standalone significance, the upcoming Moroccan-hosted tournament will contribute to determining qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
This edition marks Morocco’s third straight time welcoming the WAFCON, building on its successful stints in 2022 and 2024.
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