Well, this is awkward. Just hours after South Africa's Deputy Sports Minister announced they'd be hosting this year's Women's Africa Cup of Nations, the actual Sports Minister came out and said "not so fast."
Deputy Minister Peace Mabe made the big reveal on Sunday night at the HollywoodBets Super League awards ceremony. She confidently stated that South Africa was stepping up to replace Morocco as WAFCON hosts. The tournament is supposed to kick off in just 60 days on March 17.
"We took an opportunity that presented itself," Mabe told SABC Sport. She pointed to South Africa's impressive track record, including hosting the 2010 men's World Cup and the recent G20 summit. The message was clear: we've got this.
But Then the Minister Stepped In
Hours later, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie released a statement that basically contradicted everything his deputy said. According to McKenzie, nothing is confirmed yet. Morocco is still the official host, and CAF hasn't even triggered an alternative hosting process.
McKenzie explained that South Africa has simply expressed willingness to help if needed. But actually hosting would require going through proper channels: formal confirmation from CAF, Cabinet approval, confirming stadiums and cities, and sorting out government guarantees.
"The remarks made by the Deputy Minister do not constitute a formal confirmation," McKenzie clarified. Ouch. That's got to sting a bit.
What This Means for the Tournament
So where does this leave WAFCON 2026? Right now, Morocco is still technically the host. But clearly, something's going on behind the scenes if South Africa is even discussing stepping in.
The tournament has expanded to 16 teams this year, up from 12. South Africa is drawn in Group B with Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania. They'll be looking to improve on their recent form after Nigeria beat them and Morocco in last year's final.
For anyone looking at the betting markets, this uncertainty could create some interesting scenarios. If the tournament does move to South Africa with just two months' notice, there could be advantages for the hosts and disadvantages for teams scrambling to adjust travel and preparation plans.
The bottom line? Nothing is confirmed despite what you might have heard Sunday night. CAF still needs to make the official call, and South Africa needs to go through all the proper processes. We'll have to wait and see how this plays out over the coming weeks.
