The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the 2026 edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will no longer take place in March as initially planned, with the tournament now moved to a new July–August window.
Originally scheduled to run from 17 March to 3 April 2026, the competition will now kick off 25 July and conclude on 16 August 2026.
The decision, announced by CAF, shifts the continental showpiece to later in the year while preparations for the tournament continue.
Meanwhile, the tournament will still be hosted by Morocco, maintaining the country’s role as host of Africa’s premier women’s national team competition.
CAF explained that the change came after consultations with several stakeholders across world football, including FIFA, in a bid to ensure the competition is delivered successfully.
The governing body stated that the rescheduling was necessary “to ensure the success of this important women’s competition in light of certain unforeseen circumstances.”
Despite the adjustment in the calendar, momentum around the tournament remains strong.
Teams across the continent will now have additional time to fine-tune preparations before the competition eventually kicks off in the summer window.
Looking ahead, the 2026 tournament will mark the 16th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the continent’s flagship event for women’s international football.
Furthermore, Morocco will host the tournament for the third consecutive time, with matches expected to be staged in major cities such as Rabat, Casablanca and Fez.
In another key development, the upcoming edition will feature an expanded 16-team format, increasing from the previous 12-nation structure.
This expansion opens the door for more African nations to compete on the biggest stage of women’s football on the continent.
Beyond continental pride, the tournament also carries global implications.
Performances at the event will form part of Africa’s qualification pathway toward the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, which will be hosted in Brazil.
Meanwhile, defending champions Nigeria women’s national football team will arrive at the tournament aiming to protect their crown after securing their record-extending 10th WAFCON title in the previous edition.
For now, while CAF has not revealed the exact reasons behind the “unforeseen circumstances,” the revised schedule ensures teams have extra months to prepare as the race toward continental glory gathers pace.
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