Women’s AFCON 2026: Between South Africa and CAF is Morocco out of the hosting picture?

The world of African football woke up in a certain confusion this Monday. It all began at the prestigious Hollywoodbets Super League Awards, where the elite of South African women’s football gathered. Invited to the microphone of the national channel SABC, the Deputy Minister of Sports, Bertha Peace Mabe, dropped a bombshell by stating that South Africa would host the competition next March.

« Morocco is not available »
With disconcerting assurance, the government representative declared: "South Africa will host the women’s AFCON 2026. When Morocco said it was not available, we seized the opportunity. We have already proven with the G20 that we can organize large events.”

The information, relayed instantly by international news agencies, caused a shock wave. In Morocco, the designated host country and pillar of continental football, astonishment quickly gave way to misunderstanding, as no communication from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has yet corroborated any withdrawal.

Nocturnal backpedaling of the SA Sports Ministry
Faced with the extent of the controversy and the risk of a diplomatic incident with Rabat, the South African Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie, had to extinguish the fire urgently during the night. In an official statement issued a few hours later, Pretoria radically qualified the remarks of the deputy minister.

The department clarified that while "contingency planning" discussions have taken place with CAF, nothing is official. “South Africa has expressed its willingness to support the CAF, if necessary, in the event that alternative organizational arrangements for the 2026 Women’s AFCON become necessary. These exchanges are part of ongoing discussions initiated by the CAF, while it is studying different possibilities in accordance with its responsibility for good governance of continental football (...) Morocco remains the designated host country, can be read in the ministerial update. A straight backpedaling that betrays an obvious precipitation at the top of the South African state.

 CAF walled in silence
At the heart of this confusion, CAF remains, for now, silent. This imbroglio nevertheless raises persistent questions about the behind-the-scenes of the organization. If Pretoria is 'ready', is this a sign that Morocco is encountering real logistical difficulties in meeting the deadlines of March 2026? Hard to believe after the successful organization of the AFCON 2025.

Unless the Kingdom is no longer inclined to come to the aid of CAF, after the sanctions pronounced against the federation and players Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari after the stormy final? Or is it simply an excess of political zeal on the part of the South African vice-minister?