The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) could face severe new sanctions after expressing its intention to withdraw from hosting the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2026, originally scheduled from March 17 to April 3. This decision follows the dissatisfaction of Fouzi Lekjaâ and the FRMF, who are contesting the sanctions imposed by CAF after the incidents during the men’s CAN 2025 final between Senegal and Morocco.
According to the disciplinary regulations of the Confederation of African Football, any withdrawal notified less than six months before the start of a tournament results in a fine of $250,000. But the sanctions don’t stop there: the FRMF would also be required to compensate for the financial and moral damages suffered by CAF and the other participants in the competition.
The consequences for the Moroccan women’s team would be particularly heavy. In the event of withdrawal, the national team would be suspended for the next two editions of the CAN, in addition to 2026. The Lionesses of the Atlas would thus miss out on CAN 2028 and CAN 2030, depriving them of major competitions on the African continent.
This suspension would also have a direct impact on qualifying for the Women’s World Cup. The semi-finalists of CAN 2026 earn a spot in the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. If the sanction is strictly enforced, Morocco could be excluded not only from the 2027 tournament but also from the 2031 edition.
For the FRMF, which relies on all its teams to drive its sports policy, such a withdrawal would be a serious blow, both sportingly and strategically. The ambitions of the Lionesses of the Atlas, who aimed for a second consecutive World Cup appearance, could be seriously compromised in the medium and long term.
