AFCON 2025
South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie has revealed that the country is ready to host the 2026 Women’sAfrica Cup of Nations, as uncertainty continues to grow over Morocco hosting the competition for the third consecutive time.
McKenzie said South Africa is ready to host the rest of Africa if Morocco backs out of the competition. He went on to accuse Morocco of trying to embarrass the president of the Confederation of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, who is also South African.
Gayton McKenzie shared his thoughts while addressing the media on Wednesday.
If #Morocco is not ready to host the WAFCON, #SouthAfrica is ready to host the WAFCON… Why is women’s football being treated with levity? I am saying that we will not be held hostage, because they want to embarrass Dr. Motsepe.”
Morocco was billed to host the 14th edition of the competition between March 17th and April 3rd across four venues in three host cities.
However, it is not clear whether the North African country will proceed to host the competition, having staged the Africa Cup of Nations between December and January.
British journalist of Nigerian descent, Osasu Obayiuwana, confirms that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have been mute on whether or not the competition will hold, having spoken with a couple of sources close to the football body.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons are defending champions and are looking to win a record 11th title after beating Morocco to win the tenth last July.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will serve as the qualifier for the expanded 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the top four team qualifyinf for the competition while the four quarter-final losers will compete to determine the two African representatives in the inter-confederation play-offs.
