South Africa has announced its readiness to host the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) following Morocco’s reported withdrawal from the tournament, just two months before the scheduled kick-off, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The competition is slated to run from March 17 to April 3, 2026, under a compressed calendar necessitated by the postponement of the 2024 edition due to global scheduling challenges, including the Paris Olympic Games.
The development was confirmed on Sunday evening by Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, who revealed that South Africa has agreed to take over hosting responsibilities at short notice. Speaking at the Super League Awards ceremony in Johannesburg, Mabe disclosed that the handover process had been concluded, leaving the country with a narrow preparation window for Africa’s flagship women’s football tournament.
“Tonight, I would like to announce that South Africa will be hosting the 2026 WAFCON, which we all know is a qualifying tournament for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil,” Mabe said.
Morocco’s withdrawal has come as a surprise, especially after the country’s successful hosting of the men’s Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. As of now, neither Moroccan authorities nor the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued an official explanation for the decision.
However, the move is widely believed to be connected to domestic tensions following the AFCON final in Rabat, where the host nation suffered a dramatic defeat to Senegal. Reports suggest the aftermath included controversy, disciplinary actions, and public criticism, leading to internal pressure to reduce the hosting of major CAF events in the short term.
The 2026 WAFCON was initially planned to feature an expanded 16-team format, though it remains unclear whether the dates or structure of the tournament will be adjusted following the change of host nation.
Despite the logistical challenges posed by the late confirmation, South Africa boasts a strong pedigree in staging elite women’s football. Banyana Banyana lifted the WAFCON trophy on home soil in 2022, a historic triumph that underlined the country’s growing influence in the women’s game.
The stakes for the upcoming tournament are high, with the four semi-finalists set to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, while the remaining African slots will be decided via inter-confederation play-offs involving the losing quarter-finalists.