Morocco Withdraws from Hosting WAFCON After AFCON Final Fallout

Morocco has opted out of hosting the upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after a contentious AFCON final defeat to Senegal. The AFCON final saw Senegal emerge victorious after a dramatic match that included a controversial penalty decision in stoppage time.

Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz missed a crucial penalty kick, leading to Morocco's defeat. The Moroccan reaction to the loss has been mixed, with some feeling hard done by the outcome.

Despite investments in hosting sporting events, Morocco's decision not to host WAFCON has been criticized as unnecessary arrogance by some observers. The South African Sports Minister has stated that no formal decision has been made on relocating the 2026 WAFCON away from Morocco.

The tournament is scheduled to kick off on March 17.