Former assistant coach of the Nigeria women’s national football team, Mansur Abdullahi, believes the decision by the Confederation of African Football to postpone the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations could ultimately provide participating nations with more time to prepare, despite the disappointment surrounding the announcement.
CAF recently confirmed that the 2026 edition of the continental tournament, originally scheduled for March, will now take place between July 25 and August 16, 2026 in Morocco, following consultations with stakeholders including FIFA.
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Reacting to the development, Abdullahi acknowledged that while the postponement is not ideal, it may present an opportunity for teams to strengthen their preparations ahead of the competition.
“The postponement is disappointing, but it could also give some countries more time to prepare properly for the tournament,” Abdullahi said.
He explained that the additional time could allow coaches to assess players more thoroughly, organise more friendly matches and build stronger squads for the championship.
However, Abdullahi expressed concern over the new timing of the tournament, noting that it does not fall within an official FIFA international window.
“My main concern is that clubs will already be preparing for a new season when the tournament begins,” he explained.
According to him, the scheduling could create conflicts between clubs and national teams, potentially discouraging some players from participating in the tournament.
“Players may find it difficult to leave their clubs if the competition does not fall within a FIFA window,” he added.
Despite these concerns, Abdullahi urged CAF to learn from the situation and ensure better planning in the future.
“There is still room for improvement, and CAF must ensure that such situations are avoided going forward,” he said.
The WAFCON remains Africa’s premier women’s football competition and a key platform for teams such as Nigeria’s Super Falcons to maintain their dominance on the continent.
