Rasheedat Ajibade Laments Late Postponement of WAFCON 2026

Rasheedat Ajibade has voiced strong frustration following the postponement of the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

The captain of Nigeria’s Nigeria women’s national football team reacted after the Confederation of African Football confirmed that the 2026 edition of the competition in Morocco will no longer begin on March 17 as originally scheduled.

CAF announced that the tournament has been rescheduled to take place from July 25 to August 16, 2026, citing unforeseen circumstances following discussions with partners and stakeholders.

Ajibade took to social media shortly after the announcement to express her disappointment at the timing of the decision, which came less than two weeks before the competition was due to kick off.

“African women football deserves better,” the forward wrote, reflecting the frustration among players regarding the handling and planning of major women’s competitions on the continent.

The sudden postponement has generated concern among players, teams and fans, as several national teams had already begun preparations and travel arrangements for the tournament.

The competition, Africa’s premier women’s football event, also serves as a key pathway toward qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, making the delay a significant disruption to many national team programmes.