The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has postponed the 2026 edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) just 12 days before the tournament was scheduled to begin in Morocco.

In a statement released on Thursday, Caf announced that the competition had been rescheduled due to “unforeseen circumstances”. The tournament will now take place from 25 July to 16 August.

The event had originally been set to run from 17 March to 3 April and will also serve as a qualifying competition for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Morocco had been preparing to host the finals for a third consecutive time. However, uncertainty over the country’s readiness had caused growing concern among players and supporters in recent weeks, particularly amid speculation that the hosting rights might be transferred elsewhere.

Questions about Morocco’s preparedness intensified following the chaotic aftermath of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. In that match, Senegal national football team defeated Morocco national football team 1-0 in a tense encounter at the Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.

Despite the speculation, Caf said preparations for Wafcon are continuing and did not indicate any change to the host nation.

The governing body explained that the postponement was intended to “ensure the success of this important women’s competition”. The group-stage draw for the expanded 16-team tournament had already been held on 15 January, though Caf had yet to release the full match schedule.

Earlier uncertainty surrounding the tournament had already drawn attention. At the beginning of February, Gayton McKenzie, the sports minister of South Africa, was forced to clarify remarks made by his deputy suggesting South Africa might take over hosting duties.

The latest delay is likely to renew criticism over Caf’s handling of women’s football competitions. The 2020 edition of Wafcon was cancelled entirely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations was pushed back to early 2022.

The most recent Wafcon tournament, held in 2024, was also delayed until July because of scheduling conflicts that included the 2024 Summer Olympics. That edition was eventually won by the Nigeria women’s national football team.

Wafcon is now the second major continental tournament to be postponed at short notice in recent months. In late 2024, Caf also delayed the African Nations Championship just 18 days before it was due to start across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in February 2025.

At the time, Caf said its technical experts had advised that additional time was required to ensure infrastructure and facilities met the necessary standards. The tournament was eventually staged in August last year.

The knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League is set to deliver high-stakes encounters, with Chelsea drawn against reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.

Meanwhile, Manchester City will meet Real Madrid in what marks the fifth consecutive season the two sides have faced off in the competition’s knockout rounds.

Despite six Premier League teams reaching the last 16, there will be no all-English ties. League leaders Arsenal are set to take on Bayer Leverkusen, while Newcastle United face Barcelona.

Elsewhere, Liverpool have been paired with Galatasaray, and Tottenham Hotspur will go up against Atlético Madrid.

The first-leg matches are scheduled for 10 and 11 March, with return fixtures set for 17 and 18 March.

Chelsea’s meeting with PSG revives memories of last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final, where the Blues secured a 3-0 victory over the European champions in New Jersey.

Manchester City, Newcastle and Liverpool have all already faced their respective opponents during the league phase this season, adding familiarity to the upcoming contests.

Looking ahead in the bracket, a successful run could see Newcastle and Tottenham meet in the quarter-finals, while Chelsea may face Liverpool should both sides advance.

The competition will culminate at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest on Saturday, 30 May, where Europe’s next champions will be crowned.

The timing of the Africa Cup of Nations played a decisive role in why Manchester United opted not to pursue Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, according to former first-team coach Benni McCarthy.

Osimhen had emerged as one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards after netting 26 league goals during the 2022–23 season, powering Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years.

McCarthy, who was part of the Old Trafford coaching setup under then manager Erik ten Hag, revealed he had been involved in striker recruitment discussions and viewed Osimhen as an ideal fit for the club.

However, the biennial scheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations — which often overlaps with the European club season — ultimately proved a significant obstacle.

Despite Osimhen initially topping the shortlist, concerns about his absence during international duty led United to explore alternative options.

The club instead moved to sign Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta for £72m in August 2023. The Danish forward went on to score 26 goals in 95 appearances before joining Napoli on loan last September.

Meanwhile, Osimhen’s career continued its upward trajectory. He was crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2023 and later joined Galatasaray on loan in September 2024, before completing a permanent move to the Turkish side last July.