By Brian Rajula
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announce new dates for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, confirming that the continental tournament will no longer be staged in March as previously planned.
In a statement released on its official platforms, CAF revealed that the competition will now take place from July 25 to August 16, 2026, with Morocco retaining hosting rights. The tournament had earlier been scheduled to run between March 17 and April 3, 2026, following Morocco’s selection as host in October 2024.
According to CAF, the decision was reached after consultations with FIFA and other key stakeholders. The football governing body explained that adjusting the dates would allow for better organization and ensure the tournament is delivered successfully. CAF also pointed to unforeseen circumstances that made the change necessary.
The announcement puts to rest days of uncertainty that had surrounded the tournament’s schedule, especially as participating national teams had already intensified preparations.
For Kenya Women’s National Football Team, commonly known as the Harambee Starlets, the revised timeline significantly alters their build-up plans. The team had been in Ivory Coast for international friendlies as part of their preparations and had planned to wrap up their final training camp in Miramas, France before heading to Morocco.
During their West African tour, the Starlets experienced mixed fortunes, suffering a 2–0 defeat to Benin Women’s National Football Team before falling 1–0 to Ivory Coast Women’s National Football Team.
However, the postponement could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the Kenyan side, offering the technical bench more time to strengthen the squad, improve team chemistry and address tactical weaknesses ahead of their return to Africa’s biggest women’s football stage.
