Morocco Moves to Delay 2026 Women’s AFCON, Cites Congested Calendar and World Cup Focus
Morocco are preparing to formally ask the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to postpone the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, pointing to an overloaded football calendar and competing national priorities.
The flagship women’s tournament is currently scheduled to be hosted by Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026, with 16 nations set to compete for the continental crown. However, the Moroccan Football Federation believes the timing poses significant challenges.
According to officials, the request for postponement is largely driven by the need to complete the domestic league season on schedule, with a planned conclusion date of May 15, 2026, just weeks before the FIFA World Cup kicks off.
In addition, Morocco’s football authorities are keen to fully concentrate on preparations for the Atlas Lions ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The 2026 edition of the Women’s AFCON is set to be historic, as it will mark the first time 16 teams participate in the tournament. Egypt, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Mali are among the invited nations after failing to secure automatic qualification.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons remain the most successful team in the competition’s history, having lifted the trophy a record ten times. As defending champions, they will be aiming to retain their title if the tournament goes ahead as scheduled in North Africa.