Wafcon 2026 was postponed just 12 days before its start in Morocco

Ahead of the CAF announcement, the BBC spoke to former Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanuzi, who expressed her deep disappointment at the repeated setbacks for women’s football on the continent.

“I’m very concerned and I would say I’m disappointed that this keeps happening in women’s football,” she told BBC Sport Africa.

“During Covid, Wafcon was postponed [but] The men went on to play the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

“I think it’s because it’s women’s football, people don’t really give it much importance,” she said.

Morocco successfully hosted the Wafcon in 2022, and the postponed 2024 edition was held in 2025, which saw record attendance numbers and strong television audiences across Africa.

“It is disappointing that we depend so much on Morocco,” says Oparanuzi, who won the World Cup four times with Nigeria.

“CAF must start looking for potential countries that will take their place in the event of Morocco’s withdrawal.”

Oparanuzi said the postponement could have a physical and mental impact on the players who were already preparing for the tournament.

Teams such as Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana continued their preparations with high-profile friendly matches, as Ghana’s Black Queens were on a training tour in the United Arab Emirates.

“they [players] “They will be very anxious considering the amount of work they have done so far both physically and mentally.”

“They have put their lives on hold just to focus on this tournament, and the uncertainty for so long may be demoralizing for some,” she said.

The escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has caused airspace closures and flight cancellations, has heightened concerns about the tournament, with the Ghanaian team needing assurances and support from the country’s foreign mission.

“We are currently safe, our delegation is in contact with us and working to ensure our safety and we will leave as soon as possible, when our flight is scheduled,” Matilda Dzivo Demido, the team’s media officer, told BBC Sport Africa.

“But in the meantime, while we wait for the schedule, we will train and play the last match in a safe place,” she added.