When the final round of qualifiers for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) concluded in December, the 12 qualified teams presumed the tournament would take place in Morocco at some point this year. But they will now have to wait an unprecedented 19 months – until 5-26 July 2025 – before it is staged in order to avoid a clash with this summer’s Olympics.
“It is a ridiculous situation,” said an official of the Nigeria Football Federation, one of the participating teams, when speaking to the Guardian. “Where has it happened, in any confederation, anywhere in the world, for there to be a one-and-a-half-year gap between the end of a qualifying series and the main tournament? How does a coach maintain team momentum and keep the same players for the tournament?
“It is unacceptable that the Confederation of African Football (Caf) cannot schedule its tournaments properly and promptly, which is creating a huge mess for women’s national team football in the continent.”
The president of another participating team added: “When we had our usual Caf meeting, on the fringes of the last Fifa congress in Bangkok, we were told that they were waiting for guidance from Fifa before a tournament date could be confirmed. I was very surprised to hear that. It is Caf’s responsibility to ensure that its tournaments are properly scheduled, in alignment with the international match calendar”. Caf is supposed to fix the time for its competitions and consult Fifa in good time to ensure they are confirmed in the international match calendar.
“Caf awarded this tournament to Morocco in August 2022. There has been more than enough time for them to schedule the event properly,” added the president. “There is no excuse for the mess we are in. This year’s Olympic football tournament is no credible reason for why it has been postponed. They knew about the Olympics and they should have come up with a solution, to avoid the schedule clash”.
Except for Nigeria and Zambia, the continent’s two representatives at the forthcoming Olympics, the 10 other teams that qualified for Wafcon – Morocco, South Africa, Ghana, Tunisia, Mali, Algeria, Senegal, DR Congo, Botswana and Tanzania – will now have no competitive fixtures until next year. “It’s disappointing,” said Desiree Ellis, coach of South Africa, the reigning Wafcon champions, in an interview with South African broadcaster, SABC Sport. “The new cycle started last year to the World Cup. If the [Wafcon] draw can happen sooner than later you will know who you’re preparing for well in advance. If the draw can come early, I think that will help all other countries.”
This is the second time in four years that the tournament has suffered a scheduling setback – the 2020 Wafcon was cancelled as a result of the pandemic, leaving many within the continent’s football community deeply upset. The new tournament dates, which ensure Wafcon will be played at the same time as next year’s Women’s European Championship in Switzerland, does not lay Caf’s scheduling problems to rest – another Wafcon is scheduled to take place in 2026, with that tournament doubling as a qualifying tournament for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a host and schedule for that tournament has yet to be organised by Caf.
“We are supposed to play [Wafcon] this year but we have teams engaged in the Olympics, so we have to find another date,” Véron Mosengo-Omba, Caf’s general secretary, told the BBC last month. “Scheduling is a nightmare for everybody.”
That may be true but Caf must take responsibility for its own problems in this regard and how that is harming the stability and long-term health of Africa’s premier women’s football tournament.
Talking points
Irish triumph: Ireland beat France 3-1 on Tuesday night in yet another Euro 2025 qualifying shock. France made 11 changes from their game against Sweden last Friday, something which fired up the Irish. “It was probably an insult to us that France made 11 changes, and they underestimated us,” Denise O’Sullivan told the Irish Examiner. “We definitely shocked them.”
Ferns warning: New Zealand drew 1-1 with Zambia in a friendly on Sunday as both teams continued their preparations for the Olympics in Paris. Rhoda Chileshe gave Zambia the lead four minutes into the second half before Katie Kitching equalised from the penalty spot for the Football Ferns. “I think one of the big things [we took from the match] is the way Zambia threatened our defensive line,” said New Zealand’s head coach, Michael Mayne. “That’s going to be something that all the teams we face at the Olympics are going to do to us.”
Bronze is a Blue: Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Lucy Bronze on a two-year contract, completing the England right-back’s hotly anticipated switch to London on a free transfer after the conclusion of her contract at Barcelona. “I’m really excited to be back in England,” Bronze said. “My family are so excited as well to get to more of my games. I’m excited to be in London, to see what the capital holds and to be at a club that is renowned for winning so many trophies.”
Quote of the week
Learn from history. It’s the only guidebook to life that we have” – Nigeria’s coach Randy Waldrum.
Recommended viewing
Check out Sophia Smith’s winning strike for the USWNT in their 1-0 win against Mexico on Saturday.
Still want more?
Sarina Wiegman’s decision to bring in Hannah Hampton over Mary Earps suggests a changing of the guard in the England goalkeeping ranks, writes Suzanne Wrack.
Manchester United are set to sign the Norway striker Elisabeth Terland from Brighton. Read Tom Garry’s exclusive story.
And Caitlin Foord has been added to the Matildas’ alarmingly long injury list before the Paris Olympics. Joey Lynch has the details.
