South Africa will host the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations after Morocco unexpectedly pulled out just 60 days before the tournament was scheduled to begin, Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Peace Mabe announced on Sunday night. The dramatic announcement came during the Super League Awards ceremony in Johannesburg, where Mabe declared that the country would take on hosting responsibilities for the continental women's football championship.
Morocco's withdrawal follows the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final held in Rabat on January 18, where the host nation lost 1-0 to Senegal in a match marred by protests, player walk-offs, and heated confrontations. The game saw Senegalese players temporarily leave the pitch in protest after a disputed VAR penalty was awarded to Morocco in the 98th minute of stoppage time. The fallout resulted in CAF imposing substantial fines on both federations and suspending several officials and players.
The decision to withdraw appears linked to growing frustration within Morocco over perceived unfair treatment despite the country's massive financial and logistical investments in African football. CAF rejected Morocco's appeal to overturn the AFCON final result and issued sanctions against Moroccan officials, ball boys, and supporters, totaling over $300,000 in fines. Public sentiment in Morocco has reportedly turned hostile toward CAF following these decisions.
South Africa, the 2022 WAFCON champions, inherits a significant challenge with limited preparation time. The tournament, which has been expanded to 16 teams for the first time, serves as the African qualification route for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. Banyana Banyana, led by their experienced squad, will now have home advantage as they seek to defend their continental crown.
The South African Football Association and the Department of Sport are expected to provide details on host cities and venues in the coming days. The draw for the tournament had already been completed in Rabat on January 15, with teams divided into four groups. South Africa, placed in Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania, must now rapidly prepare to welcome Africa's top women's football nations for the March 17 to April 3 competition.
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