The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has put to rest growing speculation over the hosting of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), confirming that Morocco will remain the official host of the continent’s flagship women’s football tournament.
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe addressed rumours during an Executive Committee meeting on Friday, saying the tournament will go ahead as scheduled from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
Motsepe stressed that despite discussions with several interested countries, the agreement with Morocco remains firmly in place, and there are no plans to change the venue or postpone the event.
“There are discussions taking place, and a lot of competitions. Morocco came to assist because there were many countries that wanted to host it,” Motsepe said.
“As we speak now, we still have an engagement with Morocco.” He added that rescheduling the tournament is not an option, as it forms part of the qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Speculation about Morocco’s ability to host emerged after South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, suggested that South Africa might take over the hosting duties, citing stadium readiness and prior event hosting experience.
However, South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie clarified that no formal decision had been made to replace Morocco, and that the country’s offer was a contingency plan rather than an official change of host.
An official statement from South Africa’s Ministry of Sport later reiterated that while the country is willing to support CAF if needed, Morocco remains the designated host, and any alternative would require formal CAF approval and government clearance.
The 2026 WAFCON is not just a continental showpiece, it also plays a crucial role in African teams’ pathways to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Because of this, CAF emphasised the importance of sticking to the planned dates and venue to ensure the integrity of the qualification process.
If held as confirmed, the 2026 tournament will be the third straight WAFCON hosted by Morocco, following successful editions in 2022 and 2024.
