WAFCON 2026 postponed 12 days before kick-off in Morocco, BBC Africa reports
The 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations has been postponed 12 days before it was due to kick off in Morocco, BBC Africa reports. No new dates were announced in the reporting read, and CAF's own statement on the postponement had not been read directly when this page was published, so the claim is carried as reported, in Checking state. The tournament had already been moved once in this cycle: CAF shifted it in March 2026 from a March–April window to 25 July – 16 August 2026.
Checking in progress
This story is still being checked. Claims below are published as claims — never dressed as facts — and each one moves only when the evidence earns it.
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Key points
- BBC Africa reports CAF has postponed the Women's Africa Cup of Nations 12 days before kick-off in Morocco.
- No new dates and no reason have been announced in the reporting read so far.
- CAF's own statement on this postponement had not been read directly at publish time — the story is in Checking state and will be updated the moment it is.
- The tournament had already been moved once this cycle, from March–April to 25 July – 16 August 2026, per CAF's March statement.
What happened
The Women's Africa Cup of Nations is African women's football's flagship tournament, and Morocco — hosts of the last two editions and finalists in both — was due to host again. A postponement 12 days out lands on teams that have named squads, fans who have bought tickets, and broadcasters with schedules set.
This page is published in Checking state on purpose: the postponement is so far reported by BBC Africa, and CAF's own announcement — the primary source — had not been read directly when the page was built. When CAF's statement is read, this story will be updated with the new dates and the stated reason, and the labels will change accordingly.
Claim by claim
Why this label: This rests on BBC Africa's report, read via its Africa page: 'Caf postpones Wafcon 2026 just 12 days before kick-off — the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations is postponed just 12 days before the finals were due to kick off in Morocco.' CAF's own statement on this postponement had not been read directly when this page was published — CAF's site, read on 1 November, still carried pre-tournament material (confirmed squads, ticket sales, kick-off times). The postponement is carried as reported, not as a CAF-confirmed fact, until CAF's announcement is read.
On the ladder: the evidence so far sits low — early, single or social sources. We publish the claim as a claim, never as fact.
Why this label: From CAF's own statement of 5 March 2026, read directly on cafonline.com: hosting rights were granted to Morocco in October 2024, the tournament was first scheduled for 17 March – 3 April 2026, and was then moved to 25 July – 16 August 2026 after discussions with FIFA and other stakeholders. CAF's WAFCON page, read 1 November 2026, still presents the tournament as upcoming, with official squads confirmed and ticket sales open.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: No new dates and no reason appear in the reporting read. Any date or reason circulating on social media is not carried here. This claim closes the moment CAF publishes its statement.
On the ladder: the evidence so far sits low — early, single or social sources. We publish the claim as a claim, never as fact.
What we know / what we don't know yet
What we know
- BBC Africa reports the postponement, 12 days before kick-off in Morocco.
- Morocco are the hosts, with hosting rights granted in October 2024 (CAF).
- CAF had already rescheduled this tournament once, in March 2026 (CAF's own statement).
What we don't know yet
- The new dates for the finals.
- CAF's stated reason for the postponement.
- What happens to tickets already sold and to teams' preparations.
Why it matters
WAFCON is the biggest stage in African women's football, and a postponement this late disrupts 12 qualified teams' preparations, thousands of fans' travel and a host country's showcase. It is also the tournament's second move in one cycle — which is why the reason, when CAF gives it, matters as much as the new dates.
Background
CAF grants Morocco the hosting rights for the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2026.
CAF reschedules the tournament from 17 March – 3 April 2026 to 25 July – 16 August 2026, 'to ensure the success of this important women's competition, in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances' (CAF's own statement, read directly).
BBC Africa reports CAF has postponed the finals again, 12 days before they were due to kick off in Morocco.
Update history
No silent edits. Every change is written here, with its time.
- Latest
Published in Checking state on BBC Africa's report. The open item is CAF's own announcement: new dates and the stated reason will be added, and the labels updated, as soon as it is read directly.