CAF confirmed the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations will not take place in Morocco as planned in March. Instead, the tournament moves to July 25-August 16, after the men's FIFA World Cup. The announcement came just weeks before teams had begun preparations, leaving players, coaches and federations scrambling to adjust plans for a competition that had been scheduled for March 17-April 3.

While Morocco remains the favorite to host the rescheduled tournament, CAF neither confirmed nor denied their continued role. South Africa has positioned itself as a ready alternative, with Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie stating they "will never be held hostage by countries that have less than what we have." Questions linger about why logistical issues weren't flagged earlier when the tournament was awarded in October 2024.

The situation has drawn sharp criticism from players including Nigeria's Rinsola Babajide, who called it "actually embarrassing." National teams had already assembled for pre-tournament camps before being told to dissolve them. The handling raises serious questions about CAF's commitment to women's football after President Motsepe identified it as a key focus of his administration.