Nigeria’s Super Falcons will have to wait a little longer before defending their African crown after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially postponed the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.
The tournament, which was meant to take place in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026, has now been moved to July 25 – August 16, 2026.
In October 2024, CAF awarded Morocco the hosting rights for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026. Everything appeared set for the competition to begin in March. However, less than two weeks before kick-off, CAF confirmed a major change.
In a statement on its official website, CAF explained:
“After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF has decided to reschedule the dates of the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026, to 25 July – 16 August 2026; to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, in the light of certain unforseen circumstances.
“Preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026 are underway and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful.”
The decision comes at a tense time in African football. Since the men’s Africa Cup of Nations ended in Morocco in mid-January, there have been reports of disagreements and political tension.
Morocco were unhappy after losing the final to Senegal in Rabat. There have also been disciplinary issues involving supporters of Senegal and changes within CAF’s leadership structure as a direct result of Morocco's displeasure. Some observers believe the postponement may be linked to these wider tensions, although CAF has only referred to ‘unforseen circumstances.'
South Africa’s sports authorities have even suggested they would be ready to step in and host the tournament if Morocco gives up its rights.
What this means for the Super Falcons
For Nigeria, the delay changes immediate plans but not the main objective.
The Super Falcons are Africa’s reigning champions. They won their 10th WAFCON title after defeating Morocco in last year’s final. It was Nigeria’s first triumph since 2018 and ended their longest wait for the trophy since the competition began in 1998.
The team had already begun fine-tuning preparations. Just last weekend, Nigeria defeated Cameroon 3-1 in a friendly match. Chinwendu Ihezuo, Rinsola Babajide and Michelle Alozie were all on the scoresheet, showing the team’s attacking strength ahead of the tournament.
Now, the players will return to their clubs and wait for the new July schedule. The extra months could help with recovery and tactical planning, but momentum from recent matches may slow down.
More importantly, WAFCON 2026 will also serve as qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the Mundial. For Nigeria, that will be the first target before thinking about defending their title.
There is also a personal milestone in sight. Only two Nigerian players, Mercy Akide and Perpetua Nkwocha, have scored in all three major tournaments: the World Cup, Olympics and WAFCON. Jennifer Echegini has already scored at the Olympics and WAFCON. If Nigeria qualify for the World Cup, she could join that legendary list.
For now, though, the Super Falcons must wait. Their title defence is not cancelled, just delayed. And when July arrives, Africa’s most successful women’s team will aim to prove once again why they remain the queens of the continent.
