Official: Super Falcons’ title defence delayed as CAF set new date for WAFCON 2026

The Super Falcons’ WAFCON title defense has been delayed following an official announcement from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding a shift in the tournament schedule, Afrik-Foot reports.

For several weeks, intense speculation has surrounded the 2026 edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, particularly regarding the hosting rights.

​Morocco, having hosted the previous two editions, was slated to organize the tournament again this April.

However, rumors have persisted that the North Africans were considering pulling out, fueled by the fallout and controversies surrounding the 2025 Men’s AFCON, which they also hosted.

While CAF President Patrice Motsepe insisted last month that the tournament would proceed as planned, recent developments suggest otherwise.

​On Wednesday, March 5th, South African Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie accused Morocco of attempting to embarrass the CAF President by sabotaging the 2026 WAFCON.

Following the latest update from CAF, it appears his concerns regarding the tournament’s stability were well-founded.

​CAF Confirms WAFCON 2026 Date Shift

​In a formal release on Thursday afternoon, the Confederation of African Football confirmed that the WAFCON 2026 kickoff has been moved from its original March window to July. Instead of the initial schedule of March 17 to April 3, the competition is now set to take place from July 25 to August 16, 2026.

​In an official statement, CAF noted:

​”After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA, and other stakeholders, CAF has decided to reschedule the dates of the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026 to 25 July – 16 August 2026.

“This is to ensure the success of this prestigious women’s competition in light of certain unforeseen circumstances. Preparations are underway, and all parties are confident the event will be highly successful.”

​While the governing body stopped short of announcing a change in host, the rescheduling is a significant indicator that a move may be on the horizon. Given that Morocco recently hosted the Men’s AFCON and possesses the necessary infrastructure and climate to host in April, a four-month delay suggests logistical shifts deeper than mere facility readiness.

​Notably, President Motsepe previously mentioned that any change in hosting rights would necessitate a calendar shift to accommodate new logistics.

With the dates now officially moved, it remains to be seen if CAF will take up McKenzie’s offer for South Africa to step in. The true status of the tournament’s venue should become clear in the coming weeks.

What Does This Mean The Super Falcons?

The Super Falcons would have been hopeful of defending their crown later this month, but now they would have to do that later.

They already played some tune-up friendlies recently, in preparation for the competition. But now they would have to push those preparations forward.

There is even the uncertainty of where the competition will eventually be played. So the whole thing is a mess for the team at the moment.

Logistically, it will be a nightmare for the nations involved, but they would have to cut their losses on the groundwork they have done in preparation.

Nonetheless, the Super Falcons have shown that they can dominate the continent, no matter where the football takes them too. They are still odds on favourites to win the 2026 edition.