Uncertainty Over 2026 Women’s AFCON: CAF’s Clarifications Awaited

The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon wrapped up their twolegged international friendly against reigning African champions Nigeria on March 3, 2026, in Yaounde, as part of their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The tournament is originally scheduled to run from March 17 to April 3, 2026, in Morocco. Like Cameroon, several other qualified nations are deep into preparations. However, calm is far from guaranteed, as speculation over the tournament’s fate continues to intensify. The uncertainty gained momentum after South Africa’s Deputy Sports Minister publicly stated that her country could step in to host the competition. The South African Sports Ministry later clarified that her remarks were premature and that “no formal decision has been taken by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to relocate the tournament”. While this may have been an honest miscommunication, it exposed underlying scheduling concerns and behind-thescenes discussions. When questioned about the situation, CAF President Patrice Motsepe reaffirmed his commitment to staging the competition within the designated FIFA international window. Despite his assurances, doubts persist, largely due to existing situations on ground. With less than two-week to go before kick-off, CAF has yet to finalise the competition calendar, confirm venues for the knockout stages, issue accreditations, appoint tournament officials, amongst others. These are critical processes that would ordinarily have been concluded by this stage. Given the mounting concerns, an official statement from CAF has become imperative. In this regard, CAF’s Director of Communications, Luxolo September...