Doubts over Morocco’s willingness to host the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in less than two weeks have prompted the Confederation of African Football to say it will clarify the matter in the coming days.
«Several discussions have been going on for weeks. The issue is receiving urgent, high-level attention,» CAF communications chief Luxolo September said on social network X on Wednesday.
Morocco will host the tournament for the third time in a row from March 17 to April 3, but reports that the country will withdraw continue despite CAF president Patrice Motsepe saying on February 13 that the 16th edition of the tournament would go ahead as planned in the kingdom.
“We still have an agreement with Morocco,” Motsepe said at the time, ruling out changing the dates because the tournament also serves as a qualifying event for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
South Africa previously offered to intervene as host.
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On Wednesday, South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie slammed Morocco for questioning the status of the tournament 13 days before it was due to start.
«If Morocco is ready to host the WAFCON because they had a brilliant AFCON, they should. But if they are not ready, we want to tell them that we are not a country without stadiums, we are not a country with less infrastructure. We will never be held hostage by countries that have less than us,» McKenzie said. “We will not allow women to be treated this way.”
CAF expanded the tournament to 16 teams in a surprise decision in November.
Nigeria are the defending champions after returning last year by beating Morocco 3-2 in the final.
Morocco also lost the men’s African Cup of Nations final to Senegal in January.
The ambitious kingdom is also co-hosting the 2030 Men’s World Cup.
Published on March 4, 2026
