The organization that oversees football in Africa, Caf, has postponed the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations that was supposed to start this month.
The tournament was scheduled to be held in Morocco from March 17 to April 3 but will now begin in July.
“After discussions between Caf and its partners, Fifa, and other bodies, Caf has decided to reschedule the Wafcon dates. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, this year’s Wafcon will start on July 25 and end on August 16 to ensure the success of this important women’s competition,” said a Caf statement.
It just so happened that the 16 teams that will play in this tournament were still in the middle of preparations since there are two weeks left for it to start.
Banyana Banyana was busy in the camp in Polokwane which was started by players based in the country, and there were also players from abroad including Thembi Kgatlana, Lebohang Ramalepe, Amogelang Motau and others.
On Wednesday, the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, accused Morocco of not clarifying what it is about hosting the tournament for the third time in a row.
“Are we dying for Senegal to win the Africa Cup of Nations? Morocco should accept that in sports sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. I don’t see if we would be here if Morocco had won Afcon,” said McKenzie in a press conference.
“Why do we look down on women in football so much? If we were talking about a men’s tournament, there would be no doubt. How will the coaches and players prepare if they don’t know where it will be played?
“If Morocco wants to continue hosting Wafcon, let it do so, but if it cannot, it should make it clear because we are ready to do so. We have the fields and everything needed to host this kind of competition.”
Caf has not yet confirmed whether Morocco has withdrawn from hosting Wafcon as it has only talked about changing the dates.