The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rescheduled the much-anticipated 16th edition of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) to July 25 – August 16 this year, with hosts Morocco retaining the tournament.
A CAF statement issued on Thursday evening revealed details of the postponement, which followed a meeting between the continent's football governing body and its partners.
“After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF decided to reschedule the dates of the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026 to 25 July – 16 August 2026 to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, in light of certain unforeseen circumstances,” read the CAF statement.
Initially, WAFCON had been scheduled to take place from March 17 to April 3 in Morocco, doubling as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with all semi-finalists earning automatic qualification for the global showpiece.
The changes are likely aimed at providing a better setup for teams and players, considering factors such as weather conditions, player availability, and preparation time, with Morocco, the original host, expected to retain its hosting rights.
Kenya’s Harambee Starlets have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Senegal, and Algeria — an exciting challenge, according to head coach Beldine Odemba, who is currently in Ivory Coast for preparations.
Odemba’s charges lost 2–0 to Benin in their first international friendly on Monday night at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan. Forty-eight hours later, they suffered another defeat, losing 1–0 to hosts Ivory Coast at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium in Abidjan on Wednesday night.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF), in conjunction with the Kenyan government, had organised a high-intensity training camp in Miramas, France, where the Harambee Starlets were set to train until March 15 after their Ivory Coast tour, before heading to Morocco for the now-postponed continental showdown.
With CAF’s new tournament dates now in place, the development is expected to allow for a more exciting competition, giving teams more time to prepare and fans a better opportunity to enjoy the key continental event.
