Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s Minister of Sport, has announced that the country is ready to host the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations if Morocco is unable to stage the tournament.
The outlook for the 2026 WAFCON remains uncertain as questions persist over whether the continent’s biggest women’s football tournament will proceed as scheduled. With just two weeks before the opening match on March 17, 2026, between Morocco and Kenya at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, organizers have yet to release key information about the competition.
The lack of updates has made it difficult for stakeholders—particularly members of the media—to adequately prepare for the tournament.
McKenzie emphasized that South Africa is willing to step in if Morocco fails to fulfill its hosting responsibilities. “If Morocco is not going to host WAFCON, as the Deputy Minister said, we are standing ready,” he stated.
The 2026 WAFCON will also serve as the African qualification tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Last-minute changes or continued silence from organizers could undermine the global growth and momentum of women’s football.
