Originally set for spring, the 2026 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Morocco will now be held from July 25 to August 16, the Confederatin of African Football has announced.
The tournament, initially planned for March 17 to April 3, 2026.
CAF said the rescheduling was aimed at ensuring the competition runs smoothly.
“Following discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF has decided to reschedule the CAF WAFCON 2026 dates to July 25 – August 16, 2026, in order to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, in light of certain unforeseen circumstances,” the continent’s football governing body said in a statement to APA on Thursday.
The final phase will for the first time bring together 16 national teams, up from 12 in previous editions. The qualified sides are Morocco, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Egypt.
The group stage draw has already been conducted. Group A features Morocco, Senegal, Algeria and Kenya. Group B comprises Tanzania, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire. Group C brings together Zambia, Nigeria, Egypt and Malawi. Group D is made up of Cameroon, Ghana, Mali and Cape Verde.
This edition will also serve as the continental qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, to be held in Brazil.
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