The upcoming edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) has been postponed only 12 days before it was scheduled to begin in Morocco, following weeks of uncertainty around the tournament.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the competition will now take place during the European summer, from 25 July to 16 August.
The tournament had originally been set to run from 17 March to 3 April. However, Moroccan organizers requested a change in schedule due to what CAF described as “unforeseen circumstances.”
CAF did not provide further details about the reasons behind the postponement but said the decision was made to guarantee the success of what it called “this important women’s competition.”
It also remains unclear whether Morocco will still host the event, which would have been the country’s third consecutive time staging the tournament.
Earlier, CAF president Patrice Motsepe had dismissed the possibility of delaying the competition because the tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Under the qualification format, the four teams that reach the semi-finals earn automatic places at the World Cup, while the quarter-final losers were expected to compete in intercontinental play-offs for another chance to qualify.
The postponement has left national teams without matches during the current international window, frustrating players and supporters of women’s football across Africa.
Many players had already paused other commitments to focus on preparations for the tournament. Football observers say the last-minute delay has once again raised concerns about CAF’s commitment to developing the women’s game on the continent.
