Head coach of South Africa girls’s nationwide soccer staff, Desiree Ellis, has expressed concern over the uncertainty that surrounded the scheduling of the Girls’s Africa Cup of Nations, after the Confederation of African Soccer confirmed a change within the match dates.
Initially, CAF granted Morocco the internet hosting rights for the 2026 version of the competitors in October 2024, with the match initially scheduled to happen between 17 March and three April 2026.
Nevertheless, after consultations with FIFA and different stakeholders, CAF introduced that the competitors could be rescheduled to run from 25 July to 16 August 2026.
The continental soccer physique defined that the choice was taken to make sure the profitable organisation of the match in mild of sure unexpected circumstances.
“Everybody was at nighttime for some time concerning the scenario,” Ellis stated.
The South African coach admitted that the uncertainty created difficulties for groups getting ready for the competitors, notably for gamers who had been coaching with out readability about when the match would ultimately happen.
“Gamers have simply been coaching and ready for additional clarification,” she defined.
Ellis additionally identified that the competitors falls outdoors the official FIFA worldwide window, that means gamers typically have to attend till ultimate squad bulletins earlier than understanding their availability for nationwide staff responsibility.
“Having gamers wait till the ultimate squad listing is introduced is unfair on them,” she added.
Regardless of the sooner uncertainty, CAF has now confirmed that preparations for the match are ongoing, with organisers assured the competitors can be a hit when it will definitely kicks off.
“Preparations are underway and everybody hopes the match can be profitable,” Ellis famous.
Ellis concluded by stating that her staff will stay centered on preparations as they appear to defend their continental standing when the match begins in Morocco later within the yr.
“All we will do is hold getting ready and be prepared when the match begins,” she stated.
