Omorinsola Babajide has publicly expressed her frustration after the 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations was postponed from its original March schedule to August.
The Confederation of African Football confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that the tournament will now take place from 25 July to 16 August 2026. The competition had initially been fixed for 17 March to 3 April 2026 in Morocco, but the dates were changed following consultations with key stakeholders.
In a statement released on its official website, CAF explained the decision. The body stated: “In October 2024, the Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) granted the hosting rights for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (“WAFCON”) 2026 to Morocco and this tournament was scheduled for 17 March to 3 April 2026.
After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF decided to reschedule the dates of the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026, to 25 July – 16 August 2026; to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances.”
Reacting on X formerly known as Twitter, the AS Roma Women forward did not hide her disappointment. She wrote, “It’s actually embarrassing at this point…”
Her comments reflect the wider reaction across African football, where many fans and stakeholders have criticised CAF over what they describe as slow decision making and uncertainty surrounding the tournament.
The postponement comes shortly after the Nigeria women’s national team secured a 3 1 victory over Cameroon women’s national football team in an international friendly as both sides prepared for the competition. Omorinsola Babajide played a key role in that match, scoring once and providing an assist to help the Nigeria women’s national football team bounce back strongly.
