South Africa Addresses Reports About Replacing Morocco as 2026 WAFCON Host

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South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has addressed speculation that the country could replace Morocco as host of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), stressing that no official decision has been taken.

In a statement issued on Monday, McKenzie reaffirmed that Morocco remains the designated host nation for the tournament, which is scheduled to begin on March 17 and run until April 3.

He explained that any change in hosting arrangements would require several formal steps, including approval from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), clearance from South Africa’s cabinet, and confirmation that appropriate stadiums and infrastructure are available.

The clarification followed earlier comments by Deputy Sports Minister Peace Mabel, who had suggested that South Africa was prepared to step in after claims that Morocco might withdraw with only weeks left before kickoff.

McKenzie, however, emphasized that South Africa has merely indicated its readiness to support CAF if contingency plans become necessary, noting that such backup arrangements are standard practice for major sporting events.

“At this stage, there has been no formal move to relocate the competition, and Morocco remains the officially confirmed host. CAF has not started any alternative hosting process,” he stated.

According to reports, the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is expected to take place between March 17 and April 3 as originally scheduled.