By Michael Madyira
The staging of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations remains doubtful, as the Confederation of African Football has yet to release the tournament’s dates.
Traditionally, the competition dates would have been known two years ago following the qualification draw.
Morocco will host this year’s Wafcon, after also organising the last edition won by Banyana Banyana.
But following the conclusion of the qualifiers in December 2023, the 12 teams that will participate are yet to know when the tournament will take place.
CAF has also yet to conduct the draw for the Wafcon finals, which has complicated the participants’ preparations.
There is now the risk of Wafcon being postponed to 2025, although the continental football governing body’s secretary general Veron Mosengo-Omba insists it will be played this year
“We are supposed to play this year, but we have teams engaged in the Olympics, so we have to find another date,” Mosengo-Omba told BBC Sport Africa.
But teams that have qualified continue to blindly prepare themselves without planning international friendlies, according to opponents awaiting them at the tournament.
Banyana only played two international friendlies – against Senegal – and coach Desiree Ellis demands that CAF clarify when Wafcon will be staged.
“If it [Wafcon] is postponed or cancelled, it will be a huge, huge disappointment,” said Ellis.
“The growth of women’s football over the last couple of years has really shot through the roof, especially on the African continent.
“Just communicate whether it’s happening or whether it’s not happening so we know how to prepare going forward.”
Morocco is the first country to host back-to-back Wafcon tournaments.
Pictured above: Banyana Banyana players at training.
Source: Banyana Banyana
