The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has firmly dispelled speculations surrounding the hosting of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, confirming that Morocco remains the official host nation.

CAF president, Dr Patrice Motsepe, made this clear on Friday following an Executive Committee meeting held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, stating that the tournament will proceed as scheduled from March 17 to April 3, 2026.

Addressing the swirling rumours over the staging of the 16th edition of Africa’s premier women’s football competition, Motsepe acknowledged that several countries had expressed interest in hosting the tournament but stressed that time constraints and CAF’s high standards played a decisive role.

“There are discussions taking place and many competitions around that period. Morocco stepped in to assist,” Motsepe said. “There were many countries that wanted to host, but because we did not have time and our standards were very high, WAFCON continues. As we speak, we still have an engagement with Morocco.”

The CAF boss further underlined the importance of maintaining the tournament’s fixed calendar, noting that the competition is a critical component of the qualification pathway for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“We cannot change the dates because WAFCON is part of the qualification process for the Women’s World Cup. The tournament will go on and it will be successful,” Motsepe added.

Confusion over the host nation had emerged earlier after South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, suggested that the country could step in to host the tournament, citing stadium readiness and its experience in staging major sporting events.

However, South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie, later clarified that no formal decision had been taken to replace Morocco, insisting that the North African nation remained the confirmed host.

McKenzie explained that South Africa’s readiness was merely a contingency measure and not an indication of a change in hosting rights, stressing that any relocation would require formal approval from CAF and the necessary government clearances.

Beyond determining Africa’s continental champions, the 2026 WAFCON will also serve as a key qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The upcoming edition will mark Morocco’s third consecutive time as host of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, following the 2022 and 2024 tournaments, further cementing the country’s growing status as a hub for women’s football on the continent.