The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a major schedule change for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, pushing the tournament from its earlier March window to July 25–August 16, 2026.
The championship, to be hosted by Morocco, was originally fixed for March 17 to April 3. However, CAF confirmed on Thursday that the new dates were approved after consultations with FIFA and other stakeholders.
According to the continental body, the adjustment is aimed at ensuring better coordination and delivering a smoother, high-standard tournament. Preparations are ongoing, and organisers say confidence remains high that the competition will meet expectations.
The postponement follows weeks of uncertainty surrounding logistics and planning. Key operational details, including arrangements for advanced stages of the competition and accreditation processes, were yet to be fully concluded before the initial kickoff timeline.
For defending champions Nigeria, the revised calendar could offer a strategic advantage. The Nigeria women’s national football team recently wrapped up a two-leg friendly against Cameroon in Yaoundé, splitting the results with one loss and one win. The additional months may allow for tactical adjustments and squad fine-tuning ahead of their title defence.
Beyond continental honours, the 2026 WAFCON carries global stakes. The tournament will determine Africa’s representatives at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The four semi-finalists will secure automatic qualification, while another African side will compete in an intercontinental play-off for a final spot.
With fresh dates now locked in, participating nations are expected to recalibrate their preparation strategies as the countdown to July begins.
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