According to CAF, the tournament was originally planned to run from March 17 to April 3. It has now been rescheduled to take place from July 25 to Aug. 16. Morocco will still serve as the host nation for the competition, which also functions as a qualifying tournament for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.
In a statement, CAF said the decision was made to ensure the success of the competition. The organization explained that the schedule change was necessary because of circumstances that had affected preparations, though it did not provide further details about the reasons behind the delay.
This marks the second time in just over a year that CAF has postponed a major continental football tournament shortly before it was set to begin. In January 2025, the African Nations Championship was delayed only 18 days before kickoff. That competition was originally scheduled to take place across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda but was postponed due to concerns about infrastructure readiness. It was eventually played in August of that year.
In recent weeks, questions had also emerged about Morocco's ability or willingness to host the women's tournament. Those concerns grew after reports of logistical challenges following the 2025 men's Africa Cup of Nations final. The match, played at Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, saw Senegal defeat Morocco 1-0, and the event was followed by reports of disorganization around the venue.
Earlier this month, South Africa's Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie addressed speculation about the host country. His deputy, Peace Mabe, initially stated that South Africa was ready to step in and host the tournament if Morocco stepped aside. However, McKenzie later clarified that Morocco remained the officially designated host and that CAF had not initiated any process to move the event elsewhere. He added that South Africa had simply expressed willingness to host if necessary.
CAF's latest statement did not mention any changes to the host country. The organization said preparations for the competition are continuing and expressed confidence that the tournament will still be successful when it takes place later in the year.