South Africa Faces Tight Deadline After Confirming 2026 WAFCON Hosting Rights

South Africa Faces Tight Deadline After Confirming 2026 WAFCON Hosting Rights

By BSN Sports 

South Africa has announced its readiness to host the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) following Morocco’s reported withdrawal from the tournament, just two months before the scheduled kick-off, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The 2026 WAFCON is due to take place from March 17 to April 3, 2026, under a compressed calendar that follows the delayed 2024 edition. That tournament was affected by global scheduling challenges, including the Paris Olympic Games.

South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, confirmed the development on Sunday evening, revealing that the country had agreed to take over hosting responsibilities at short notice.

Speaking at the Super League Awards ceremony in Johannesburg, Mabe said the handover had been concluded, leaving South Africa with a limited preparation window for Africa’s flagship women’s football competition. The tournament also serves as a qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

“Tonight, I would like to announce that South Africa will be hosting the 2026 WAFCON, which we all know is a qualifying tournament for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil,” Mabe said.

Morocco’s decision to withdraw has come as a surprise, particularly after the country successfully hosted the men’s Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. Neither Moroccan authorities nor the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have issued an official statement explaining the withdrawal.

However, the move is widely believed to be linked to domestic tensions following the AFCON final in Rabat, where the host nation suffered a dramatic defeat to Senegal. The aftermath of that match reportedly included controversy, disciplinary measures and public criticism, creating internal pressure to scale back the hosting of major CAF events in the short term.

The 2026 WAFCON was originally scheduled to feature an expanded 16-team format, though it remains unclear whether the tournament dates or structure will be adjusted following the change in hosts.

While South Africa’s late confirmation presents significant logistical challenges, the country has a proven track record in staging elite women’s football. Banyana Banyana won the WAFCON title on home soil in 2022, a landmark achievement that cemented South Africa’s status as one of the continent’s leading forces in the women’s game.

The upcoming edition carries added importance, with the four semi-finalists earning automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The remaining African qualification spots will be decided through inter-confederation play-offs involving the losing quarter-finalists.