CAF Considers Alternative Hosts As Morocco Faces 2026 WAFCON Doubts

CAF Considers Alternative Hosts As Morocco Faces 2026 WAFCON Doubts
Morocco raised logistical concerns over hosting tournament earlier scheduled for March.
South Africa declares readiness to host tournament if Morocco withdraws.

The Confederation of African Football is reportedly considering alternative venues for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations amid uncertainty over Morocco’s readiness to host the tournament.

CAF announced on Thursday that the competition will no longer hold between March 17 and April 3 as earlier scheduled. The continental body confirmed that the tournament will now take place from July 25 to August 16 following consultations with FIFA and other stakeholders.

While CAF only confirmed a change in the tournament dates, doubts have emerged about whether Morocco will still stage the event.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to Sports News Africa, Moroccan authorities had privately informed CAF weeks earlier that organising the tournament in March would be difficult due to scheduling conflicts and logistical challenges.

“For several weeks, Morocco has announced internally that it cannot organize the event in March, citing a logistical and field issue with the men’s championship games or the commitments already made during the international break in March with the sixth edition of the ‘Morocco, capital of African football’ where eight selections will compete in Casablanca and Rabat,” the outlet reported.

The report also stated that CAF had quietly begun exploring backup options in case Morocco eventually steps aside.

“Aware of the problem, CAF had discreetly surveyed several countries to have a plan B. Besides South Africa, the African Confederation had even informally asked Algeria if it was potentially interested, and it was denied,” the report added.

The situation has also fuelled speculation of strained relations between CAF President Patrice Motsepe and Moroccan football chief Fouzi Lekjaa over the tournament calendar.

“Symbol of the tensions between the president of the CAF and his Moroccan counterpart, Fouzi Lekjaa, this dialogue of the deaf reached its climax last week when a statement was finally supposed to fall on the official website of the Confederation. Eight days later, nothing had been published yet,” the report stated.

“Patrice Motsepe repeated several times that it was out of the question to change the calendar because of the qualifiers for the upcoming Women’s World Cup. Problem, Morocco remains firm and repeated its inability to organise the WAFCON in March.”

Meanwhile, South Africa has declared its readiness to step in if Morocco withdraws as host.

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said the country has the infrastructure required to stage the competition and warned against delays that could affect women’s football in Africa.

“The situation regarding the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is very concerning,” McKenzie said.

“If Morocco is ready to host the WAFCON because they had a brilliant AFCON, they should do so. If they are not ready, we want to tell them, we (South Africa) have stadiums, we are not a country with less infrastructure. We will never be held hostage by countries that have less than what we have.

“We don’t wait for anyone. We will not allow women’s football to be treated in such fashion. If Morocco is not going to host it, South Africa is standing ready to host.

CAF Considers Alternative Hosts As Morocco Faces 2026 WAFCON Doubts

“Preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 are underway and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful,” the body said.

The tournament will also serve as Africa’s qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with four semi finalists earning automatic qualification and another team competing through an intercontinental playoff.