So much disrespect': outrage grows over postponement of Women's Africa Cup of Nations

"It's not really fair, Desiree Ellis, South Africa's coach, told the South African Broadcasting Corporation as rumours were circulating that the tournament would once again be postponed. I'm just going to raise a question with this Wafcon: would this be happening with the men's game?"

"It is a huge shame that the women's game is treated with so much levity on the continent, they said. How can Caf repeatedly treat the Wafcon so shabbily, with so much disrespect towards the players?"

"After discussions between Caf and its partners, Fifa and other stakeholders, Caf decided to reschedule the dates of the Wafcon 2026, to 25 July16 August 2026; to ensure the success of this important women's competition, in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances, Caf said in its statement."

Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, promised in February that the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations would proceed as scheduled in Morocco from March 17 to April 4. However, on March 5, just 12 days before the tournament, Caf announced a postponement to July 25-August 16, 2026, citing unforeseen circumstances without clarification. This marks another significant disruption to Wafcon, which has faced continual scheduling problems since 2020. The repeated postponements have generated substantial frustration among African women's football stakeholders, including coaches and federation officials, who argue the tournament receives disrespectful treatment compared to men's competitions and question whether such disruptions would occur in the men's game.

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