WAFCON 2024: A tournament in Morocco nearly forgotten could be the best one yet

The anticipation building for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, officially WAFCON 2024, is tinged with a peculiar sense of timing. Originally slated for this year, the continent's premier women's football showcase finds itself pushed into 2025, a delay that has perhaps kept it from the forefront of immediate sporting conversations but could inadvertently set the stage for an unforgettable spectacle. Morocco, the host nation, is once again ready to welcome the crème de la crème of African women's football, promising a tournament that, despite its calendar shift, might just deliver on its promise of being the most compelling edition to date.

The primary reason for the calendar adjustment lies in the dense international football schedule, particularly the alignment with Olympic qualifying tournaments. CAF, the Confederation of African Football, made the strategic decision to move WAFCON to ensure optimal participation from all nations and to avoid direct clashes that would dilute the quality of the competition. This postponement allows teams more preparation time and ensures that star players, many of whom are crucial to their clubs in Europe and beyond, will be available to represent their countries without conflict. While the wait has been longer than expected, this thoughtful scheduling could mean a higher standard of play, with fully fit and prepared squads battling for continental supremacy on Moroccan soil. The previous edition in 2022, also hosted by Morocco, set new benchmarks for attendance and viewership, and the hope is that this delayed 2024 edition will build on that momentum, proving the continent's commitment to advancing women's football.