In a surprising turn of events, just a month and a half before the kickoff of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Sports announced on Sunday, February 1, 2026, that the tournament would now take place in South Africa instead of Morocco, as originally planned.

For now, according to the ministry, no formal decision has been made, possibly as a way to temper reactions following this unexpected announcement. “At this stage, no official decision has been taken to relocate the tournament, and Morocco remains officially designated as the host of the Women’s AFCON. CAF has not yet initiated any alternative hosting process,” the Deputy Minister stated.

The minister also emphasized that the Deputy Minister’s remarks “do not constitute formal confirmation or an assumption of organizational responsibilities.”

The 2026 Women’s AFCON is scheduled to begin on March 17. Morocco’s withdrawal takes on even greater significance in light of these statements. It comes just two weeks after the controversial 2025 AFCON final against Senegal and the sanctions that followed.