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South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts & Culture Gayton McKenzie has claimed that Sunday night’s announcement that South Africa would replace Morocco as the hosts of this year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) was premature, ESPN reports.

Deputy Minister Peace Mabe’s comments — currently still unverified by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) — were made at Sunday’s awards ceremony for the HollywoodBets Super League, which is the top tier of South African women’s football.

"We took an opportunity that presented itself because we feel we have the necessary infrastructure and support [to host] the WAFCON. When Morocco said: ‘We are not able to host,’ South Africa said: ‘Yes. We are available. We are going to take it,'” Mabe told SABC Sport.

“It cannot be debatable because we have just hosted a successful G20 [summit in November] where heads of states – of different countries – were here. It tells you that in terms of hospitality, we are ready as well.

“We have the necessary infrastructure when it comes to stadiums. We have hosted the [2010 men’s] soccer World Cup before, so we are ready – we can host it.”

Confirmation of Morocco’s withdrawal as hosts and updated timelines for the tournament have yet to be issued by CAF, but Mabe suggested that little diversion would be required from the original plan for the WAFCON to be held from March 17 – April 3.

“Given the fact that it is in 60 days as well, we are not very much worried. We just have to put systems in place. From tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 2), we will begin.”

However, McKenzie responded hours after Mabe’s announcement with a statement contradicting hers, and claiming that discussions over WAFCON 2026 were still at an early stage, with no official confirmation of hosting rights.

“As the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, I wish to provide clarity following remarks made by the Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture at the Hollywoodbets Super League Awards regarding the 2026 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON),” McKenzie said.

“South Africa has expressed its willingness to support the Confederation of African Football if required, should alternative hosting arrangements for the 2026 WAFCON become necessary.

“These engagements form part of ongoing discussions initiated by CAF as it considers various contingencies in line with the confederation’s responsible stewardship of the continental game.

“At this stage, no formal decision has been taken to relocate the tournament, and Morocco remains the officially designated host of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. CAF has not yet triggered any alternative hosting process.

“Any potential hosting of the tournament by South Africa would be subject to established government and football governance processes, in partnership with the South African Football Association (SAFA) and other stakeholders, including:

Formal confirmation from CAF that alternative hosting arrangements are required;

Approval through the relevant Cabinet processes

Confirmation of host cities, stadium availability, accommodation and transport capacity; and

The conclusion of the necessary government guarantees and operational agreements.

“The remarks made by the Deputy Minister reflect government’s longstanding engagement on supporting African football and South Africa’s confidence in its proven ability to host major international sporting events. They do not constitute a formal confirmation or assumption of hosting responsibilities.

“The Department, with SAFA and stakeholders, will continue to engage with CAF in a structured and responsible manner. Any further announcements will be made only once all required processes have been concluded and formal decisions taken.

“The Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture will continue to pursue a long-term strategy of hosting major sporting events to boost sport, tourism, economic growth and the image of the country on the world stage.”

:https://www.completesports.com/south-africa-not-confirmed-as-new-wafcon-hosts-sports-minister-clarifies/

Morroco n caf romance has gone sour

Senegal you do this one

Less than 2 months to go and we're still not yet sure of the venue. Hope CAF can see the downside of giving so much power to one country.

With WAFCON scheduled very soon (mid-March 2026), logistics and planning time are tight. It makes sense that CAF and Morocco are still the official hosts unless they explicitly withdraw and complete the process.

APC have not host any Nation's cup tournament be ye male or female categories

COMRADES, if I may ask, between SA & Morocco, who will you recommend to have the hosting right?

If Morroco is not serious to host WAFCON, give the right to Nigeria.

We have all the facilities. Stadia at Uyo, Lagos, Abuja, Yobe and Maiduguri.

Nigeria can host it.

We can do it.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

If Morocco pulls out from hosting Wafcon, then they should be banned by caf for 10 years.

dominique:
Less than 2 months to go and we're still not yet sure of the venue. Hope CAF can see the downside of giving so much power to one country.

Na CAF give them so much power abi other african countries lack infrastructures to compete

Lol this CAF matter is always somehow. How can something this big be announced without proper confirmation? 🤦‍♂️ One minister says yes, another is now saying it’s premature, CAF has not even spoken yet.

South Africa clearly has the facilities to host WAFCON, no doubt about that, but football administration no be by vibes and awards night comments. Until CAF officially confirms, everything na just talk.

Make dem sort themselves out fast abeg, so teams and fans can plan well. Women’s football deserves better organisation than all this confusion.

TheStoriesOfMan:
If Morroco is not serious to host WAFCON, give the right to Nigeria.

We have all the facilities. Stadia at Uyo, Lagos, Abuja, Yobe and Maiduguri.

Nigeria can host it.

We can do it.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

yobe, Maiduguri?? You for add sokoto and kastina

RightChannel:
APC have not host any Nation's cup tournament be ye male or female categories

APC don't have the infrastructure to host the event, Somalia will do a better job

Nigeria always the sleeping giant. These are the opportunities that we should be using to shine in Africa instead of fighting fellow Africans online. We should be dominating such things not online rants . But we don't invest as much in such compared to the more serious African countries, we would rather compete with the likes of Ghana

RightChannel:
APC have not host any Nation's cup tournament be ye male or female categories

Out of all the challenges we've got in this country, not hosting a sporting tournament is what matters to you most. Go get a job.

jessicahanlo:
Lol this CAF matter is always somehow. How can something this big be announced without proper confirmation? 🤦‍♂️ One minister says yes, another is now saying it’s premature, CAF has not even spoken yet.

South Africa clearly has the facilities to host WAFCON, no doubt about that, but football administration no be by vibes and awards night comments. Until CAF officially confirms, everything na just talk.

Make dem sort themselves out fast abeg, so teams and fans can plan well. Women’s football deserves better organisation than all this confusion.

Which women tournament did Morocco host last year biko?

Give the hosting right to South Sudan

Livingstone124:
Give the hosting right to South Sudan

What about Niger Republ

Princedapace:
Na CAF give them so much power abi other african countries lack infrastructures to compete

There are more than enough countries able and willing to host the WAFCON,before Morocco where they not hosting it?

Two Stadia in 2 Cities is enough for it,even Nigeria can do it within the time frame if we want to.

DarkJeddi:
There are more than enough countries able and willing to host the WAFCON,before Morocco where they not hosting it?

Two Stadia in 2 Cities is enough for it,even Nigeria can do it within the time frame if we want to.

Even Nigeria ? hahaaha
u think hosting is about Stadium alone? oga, we cant, we cant, we cant. Na why we no fit.
A lot are involved in hosting competitions o. Even the smallest competitions sef. Nigeria has a lot of problems to tackle abeg, water, light, security, road, hospitality. When Ispeed came here, we didnt even have nice places for toursim to take him to. When u host, u must have working and vibrant toursim sector, pls. Remove Nigeria from the list. Morocco bid and win, others should bid and win too. Morocco is co hosting world cup, that alone should tell u their pedigree in stuff like this. Like I said, only SA, Egypt, can challenge Morocco ins infrastructure o. That country no be our mate abeg.

Princedapace:
Even Nigeria ? hahaaha
u think hosting is about Stadium alone? oga, we cant, we cant, we cant. Na why we no fit.
A lot are involved in hosting competitions o. Even the smallest competitions sef. Nigeria has a lot of problems to tackle abeg, water, light, security, road, hospitality. When Ispeed came here, we didnt even have nice places for toursim to take him to. When u host, u must have working and vibrant toursim sector, pls. Remove Nigeria from the list. Morocco bid and win, others should bid and win too. Morocco is co hosting world cup, that alone should tell u their pedigree in stuff like this. Like I said, only SA, Egypt, can challenge Morocco ins infrastructure o. That country no be our mate abeg.

Make dem host am, no wahala but I encourage my people not to go for the event. We don't support xenophobic people.

If south Africa is not ready Nigeria is...


But seriously morroco is really a bitter country. Imagine throwing CAF and everyone one the bus for no solid reason.


Just because they didn't have their underhand and shady way at the afcon.

They sound like shitty people.

South Africa is the only country that can pull caf out of this embarrassment with the time frame left before the competition. If south Africa doesn't host the next best thing for CAF to do is postpone and set another date.


Personally I think South Africa will eventually host it they are just behaving like a girl that has accepted to date a guy asking her out in her mind but just doing that small shakara and playing hard to get!