Backed by international support, including Fred Sorrells, the programme is recruiting women nationwide and will host an intensive training camp with specialised coaches as it prepares for global competition.

“Tonight, I would like to announce that South Africa will be hosting the 2026 WAFCON, which we all know is a qualifying tournament for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil,” Mabe said .

Morocco hosted WAFCON in both 2022 and 2024 and was scheduled to host it once more in 2026, making it the first country to achieve this feat three consecutive times. Their exit comes just 60 days before the tournament was scheduled to begin. South Africa now has a limited timeframe to prepare for the competition, which is set to run from 17 March to 3 April 2026. 

The event will feature an expanded 16-team format and serve as a qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. All four semi-finalist teams will earn automatic qualification for the global tournament.

Morocco’s exit linked to AFCON fallout

Although no formal statement has been issued by either the Confederation of African Football (CAF) or Moroccan authorities, Morocco’s withdrawal is widely believed to be related to tensions following the 2025 Men’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The men's tournament, hosted by Morocco, ended in a high-stakes final where Senegal defeated the host nation 1–0 in extra time.

The result has reportedly triggered internal pressure within Morocco to step back from hosting CAF competitions in the near term.

CAF sanctions

Following the controversial final, CAF’s Disciplinary Board has imposed a series of sanctions on both the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF) and the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF), citing breaches of the Disciplinary Code. These included violations related to fair play, integrity, and respect for match officials.

The FRMF faced US$315,000 in fines for the inappropriate behaviour of ball boys, players and staff interfering in the VAR review area, and the use of lasers by fans, while CAF officially dismissed Morocco's protest to overturn the final result

The FSF also received US$615,000 in fines for the improper conduct of supporters and staff, as well as team cautions; most notably, Senegal’s head coach, Pape Bouna Thiaw, was handed a five-match suspension and a US$ 100,000 fine.

The annual tournament gathers wrestlers from 11 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Member States as part of the organisation’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. However, this year’s edition is notable not only for introducing a women’s division but also for the absence of athletes from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following their breakaway from ECOWAS.

Female wrestlers from across the region have embraced this opportunity, challenging long-standing gender stereotypes in the sport. Celine Bakayoko, a competitor from Ivory Coast, highlighted the significance of this moment. “Only 40 percent of people believe that women can wrestle, especially in Africa,” she said. “Men say it's not a woman's place, that women belong in the kitchen or should take care of children . But I say there is no sport just for men,” she told the AFP.

Bakayoko expressed joy at the long-overdue inclusion of women in the tournament. “From the first edition to the twelfth, there were no women. We’re delighted because women know how to fight. We just needed the chance,” she added.

Yvonne Ami, another Ivorian wrestler, echoed this sentiment, calling the event a major step forward. “It’s an honour for us women to participate in this tournament. It opens the door for gender equality in wrestling, and that truly makes me happy,” she said.

Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on April 11, 1992, Wakama pursued her education at Western Carolina University, graduating with a degree in Therapeutic Recreation in 2014. She later earned an MBA from Manhattan College in 2019.

Professional Journey

Wakama's professional basketball career began in 2014 as an athlete with FIBA in the United Kingdom. She played four years with the Western Carolina Catamounts before moving to Nigeria, where she played for Nigeria’s First Bank team in the Africa Champions Cup and the Women’s AfroBasket tournament in 2015.

In 2017, Wakama became the director of basketball operations at Manhattan College, overseeing administrative affairs. Over six seasons, she transitioned to the roles of Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator. She also served as an assistant coach for Tulane University's women’s basketball team and spent a year as an Assistant Coach at Stony Brook, beginning in July 2023.

Achievements

Wakama's prominence grew when she led the D’Tigress to their fourth consecutive AfroBasket title in 2023, becoming the first woman to win the tournament. She later guided the team to Olympic qualification and now their historic quarterfinal entry since 2004.

Under her guidance, Manhattan College achieved a 21-11 record in the 2021-22 season, marking the most wins in a single season since 2010-2011 and the team's third straight winning season.

Wakama's leadership and strategic capabilities have not only brought success to Nigeria's women’s basketball team but also inspired many in the sport . Now, Rena is hoping to continue her historic adventures as her team faces the defending champions, the US women's team on August 7, 2024.

Despite their impressive track record, Las Leonas missed out on the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where they lost in the final against the Netherlands. Their current head coach, Fernando Ferrara, a former men's hockey player who competed in three Olympic tournaments for Argentina, brings a wealth of experience to the team.

"A very great mystique was created, and it is being transferred from generation to generation, made up of values of sacrifice, effort, putting the team first, and the shirt first. It was what made the Lionesses have their own name today, which also transcends the results," Ferrara is quoted by AFP.

Team captain Rocio Sanchez Moccia also expressed the determination and mindset that the team is taking into this year’s event, saying “There’s a lot of training, nothing is free, and nobody gives us anything, it is pure effort and it really means putting the shirt before everything.”

“It's a lot of love for the shirt, so to fulfil it, which would make the girls give me the best Olympic game of my life and that would be, obviously, the gold medal,” she added.

Since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where they became the first women's team in any sport to win an Olympic medal for Argentina, Las Leonas has won five consecutive medals. However, a gold medal has eluded them, with the team securing three silver medals and two bronze medals over the last 24 years.

With their sights set on gold this time, Las Leonas are more determined than ever to achieve the ultimate success in Paris 2024.

Over 30 passengers were injured on an Air Europa flight from Spain to Uruguay due to severe turbulence. Local authorities say at 2:32 a.m. local time, the aircraft made an emergency landing at the Natal Airport in northeastern Brazil, as reported by the Standard . The injured passengers sustained minor abrasions or orthopaedic traumas and were taken to hospitals in Natal, according to the health secretariat of the government of the Rio Grande do Norte state, where Natal is located. Air Europa reported that another plane was scheduled to take off from Madrid to pick up the passengers and continue the journey to Uruguay.

Market access for Australian sheepmeat restored

Brazil has restored market access for Australian sheepmeat, allowing trade to resume. This gives access to the 217 million people in Brazil and opens new opportunities for the Australian sheepmeat industry. "Brazil has a sizeable and growing market for meat products where Australian products are held in high regard for their excellence," Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt said. He added that the Australian government is committed to seeing the continued growth of bilateral agricultural trade relationship with Brazil, Australian news agency Mirage reports.

Regulations for land-based casinos

Brazil is set to vote on regulations for land-based casinos, bingo, horse racing, and instant win games in August after Parliament's recess. The Bill seeks to reorganise gambling laws and has faced delays and opposition, but is expected to be voted on after the recess. The vote is separate from the upcoming regulatory launch of the sports betting market in Brazil.

Historic World Rugby Women's Rankings

Brazil achieved a historic 12-place jump to 39th in the World Rugby Women's Rankings following their 34-13 victory over Colombia in the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 qualification play-off. This is their highest-ever position since the rankings began in 2016. Colombia has dropped three places to 29th, while Wales' win over Spain did not affect their rankings.

Copa América clash with Colombia

Brazil and Colombia are set to face off in a crucial Copa América 2024 Group Stage match . Brazil needs a win to top the group, while Colombia is already through to the quarter-finals. Brazil is looking strong after a convincing victory over Paraguay, but Colombia is on a 25-game unbeaten streak. The match is expected to be closely contested, with both teams likely to score.

Mubita Nawa, who was a candidate for the next head of Interpol, was accused of involvement in the kidnapping, detention, and assault of two Indian businessmen. The businessmen allege that Nawa played a role in a conspiracy to extort them for overpayment on a loan from the Zambian government. Nawa and the Zambian police deny the accusations, claiming the businessmen are suspects in a fraud investigation. According to the Guardian , the businessmen have filed legal proceedings against the police and government officials and are seeking the payment owed to them by the Zambian government.

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup

Zambia has been drawn against Japan, Brazil, and Poland in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic. The tournament will run from 16 October to 3 November and will be the final edition with 16 teams before expanding to 24 teams in 2025. Zambia earned their spot by defeating Tanzania 5-1 on aggregate in the first round of qualification.

Climate adaptation projects

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Zambian government are partnering on two climate adaptation projects to protect the ecosystem along one of Zambia's biggest rivers and a national park. The projects, funded by the Global Environment Facility, will support sustainable farming, livestock conservation, and resilience to water scarcity.

EU and UNICEF agreement to address malnutrition

The European Union and UNICEF have signed a Cooperation Agreement worth € 4,528,750 to address malnutrition in drought-affected districts in Zambia.  According to the leading humanitarian website ReliefWeb , the aid will benefit 89,741 women and children through food assistance, cash transfers, and nutrient supplements. The drought has affected 84 districts, leaving over 6.6 million people in need of humanitarian aid. The aid will support the Government of Zambia in responding to the crisis and preventing a nutrition crisis among children and pregnant women. The initiative is part of the Scaling Up Nutrition Phase II, which aims to reduce the stunting of children under 2 in 17 districts of Zambia.

Over 100,000 asylum seekers in Zambia

Zambia currently hosts approximately 101,878 asylum seekers, refugees, and former refugees from various countries, according to Vice-President Mutale Nalumango. The veep speaking at an event in Zambia’s northwestern province to commemorate World Refugee Day on June 20, emphasised the country's commitment to providing shelter and support to those in need, based on the principles of empathy and human dignity, local media Diggers News reports.