The Confederation of African Football 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.
The continental football governing body confirmed the decision in a statement published on its website on Thursday, ending weeks of uncertainty surrounding the tournament’s readiness. The competition will now run from July 25 to August 16, 2026, following consultations between CAF, FIFA, and other key stakeholders.
Initially scheduled to take place from March 17 to April 3, the tournament’s shift in dates was necessitated by the need to ensure the smooth organisation of Africa’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 the light of certain unforeseen circumstances,” the organisation stated.
CAF expressed confidence that preparations for the tournament were progressing and that the new timeline would allow organisers to meet all 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 comes amid growing concerns about logistical readiness, 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, and schedules for technical workshops had not been confirmed, while promotional activities around the competition were also largely absent.
For defending champions Nigeria, the change in schedule offers additional preparation time ahead of their title defence. The Super Falcons recently concluded a two-match friendly series against Cameroon in Yaoundé, splitting the results with a 1-0 loss and a 3-1 victory.
The tournament will also serve as Africa’s qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Under the qualification format, the four semi-finalists will secure automatic tickets to the global tournament, while another African side will have the opportunity to qualify through an intercontinental play-off.
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