HIBAPRESS – Rabat
The South African Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture confirmed in a press statement issued today, Sunday, February 1, 2026, that Morocco is still the official host country for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, denying any official decision to transfer the organization of the tournament to South Africa at the present time.
The statement explained that the statements made by the Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture of South Africa during the "Hollywoodbets Super League" awards ceremony prompted clarifications, stressing that the matter does not go beyond South Africa's readiness to support the Confederation of African Football if the need arises to look for alternative organizational arrangements. The same source pointed out that this readiness falls within the framework of general consultations launched by the Confederation of African Football, to study various possible scenarios, without that meaning taking any practical decision regarding the transfer of the tournament's venue. The statement stressed that the Confederation of African Football has not activated any alternative organizational procedure until now, and that Morocco remains the officially approved entity to host the finals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. The South African Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture also highlighted that any future possibility of organizing the tournament by her country will remain conditional on the availability of a set of conditions, including South Africa receiving an official notification from the Confederation of African Football, obtaining the necessary government approvals, in addition to confirming the readiness of the host cities and the infrastructure related to stadiums, accommodation and transportation, and completing government guarantees and approved regulatory agreements. This clarification comes in light of the controversy that arose in recent days about the future of organizing the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, following statements interpreted as an announcement of the transfer of the tournament from Morocco, before it was officially confirmed that no decision had been issued in this regard. It is worth noting that Morocco had requested the African Football Confederation to postpone the start date of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations to after next May 20, in order to make way for the completion of the professional national championship competitions.
