Less than two weeks before kickoff, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced plans to postpone this month's Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals, citing "unforeseen circumstances."
Originally scheduled to start in Morocco on Tuesday, March 17th, and run through Friday, April 3rd, the 2026 WAFCON competition functions as a 2027 World Cup qualifying event for African national teams.
"Preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026 are underway and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful," CAF said in a statement on Thursday.
CAF's tournament finals will now run from Saturday, July 25th, to Sunday, August 16th — a shift that could pose challenges for NWSL clubs who will likely miss major players for a full month in the middle of the league's 2026 season.
NWSL stars like back-to-back reigning MVP Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current, Malawi), 2024 MVP finalist Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, Zambia), and reigning WAFCON champion Michelle Alozie (Chicago Stars, Nigeria) are all probable call-ups to their national team rosters for the continental competition — among others.
Between the WAFCON scheduling shift and the US league's previously set month-long June pause for the 2026 Men's World Cup, NWSL fans are now unlikely to see some of the league's top athletes for much of the summer.
Nigeria's Super Falcons suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon's Indomitable Lionesses on Saturday, as both African football powerhouses prepare for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The reigning WAFCON champions controlled possession throughout the match, with Nigeria dominating the tempo while putting sustained pressure on Cameroon's defense. However, the Super Falcons couldn't convert their pitch advantage into goals.
Rasheedat Ajibade and Jennifer Echegini provided creative spark for Nigeria. Despite their efforts, however, the Africa champions failed to find a breakthrough against Cameroon's resilience.
Nigeria made several substitutions after halftime aimed at breaking down Cameroon's defensive structure. However, the title holders continued to struggle in the final third.
The match appeared headed for a goalless draw until Cameroon struck in the dying seconds, when Mbomezomo Yvana capitalized on a momentary defensive lapse to slot home the winner for the hosts.
The result marked a setback for Nigeria ahead of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, with both teams viewing this international window as crucial preparation for the continental tournament.
Fortunately for the Super Falcons, redemption arrives quickly, with the pair set to meet again on Tuesday for the second leg of March's double-header.
The reigning Africa champions will shoot for positive momentum heading into WAFCON preparations, while Cameroon seeks to build on their narrow victory and prove they can compete with Africa's elite.
Malawi made women's soccer history on Tuesday, qualifying for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time in program history — and giving sister duo Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga the chance to shine on the global stage in 2026.
The Scorchers advanced through the second qualifying round with a 2-0 second-leg win over Angola on Tuesday, with defensive midfielder Faith Chinzimu's late brace securing the aggregate advantage to win the round.
Malawi now joins Cape Verde as the two debutantes to clinch spots in the expanded 16-team 2026 tournament.
Even more, the Scorchers' breakthrough will give two of soccer's biggest club stars their biggest platform yet, as sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga gear up for the first major international tournament of their decorated careers.
While 29-year-old OL Lyonnes forward Tabitha participated in this week's WAFCON qualifying round, 27-year-old Kansas City Current striker Temwa sat out after the 2024 NWSL MVP suffered an adductor strain in her club's 1-0 upset loss to the Houston Dash on October 18th.
"It means more opportunities and great exposure to both older and upcoming players. It is a continental platform to bring football dreams alive," Tabitha told BBC Sport Africa this week.
The 2026 WAFCON tournament will see the Chawinga sisters and Malawi contend with powerhouses like host nation Morocco and reigning 10-time champion Nigeria when the continental competition kicks off on March 17th.