The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially postponed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, moving the tournament in Morocco from its original March schedule to a new window between July and August.
CAF confirmed the decision in a statement published on its website on Thursday, ending weeks of uncertainty surrounding the tournament’s timing.
The competition, which Morocco secured the rights to host in October 2024, will now take place from July 25 to August 16, 2026, following consultations between CAF, FIFA and other stakeholders involved in organising the event.
The tournament had initially been scheduled for March 17 to April 3, 2026.
According to CAF, the adjustment was necessary to ensure the smooth organisation of the continent’s flagship women’s football competition.
“After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF decided to reschedule the dates of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 to 25 July – 16 August 2026 to ensure the success of this important women’s competition in light of certain unforeseen circumstances,” the governing body said.
CAF added that preparations for the tournament were ongoing and expressed confidence that the event would meet expectations.
“Preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 are underway and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful,” the statement added.
The announcement follows growing concerns about the readiness of the tournament, with several pre-competition arrangements yet to be finalised before the initial kickoff date. Key details such as venues for the knockout rounds, accreditation for journalists, match officials, and technical workshops had not been confirmed, while promotional activities for the competition were largely absent.
For defending champions Nigeria women’s national football team, the change in schedule could provide additional time to prepare for their title defence.
The team recently concluded a two-match friendly series against Cameroon women’s national football team in Yaoundé, losing the first leg 1–0 before bouncing back with a 3–1 victory in the return fixture.
The tournament will also serve as Africa’s qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Under the qualification format, the four semi-finalists will earn automatic qualification for the global tournament, while another African side will have the opportunity to qualify through an intercontinental play-off.
