Postponing WAFCON disrespectful to women’s football - Algeria coach

The announcement that the 2026 WAFCON would be moved to July-August was made just two weeks before the tournament was scheduled to kick off last month. 

Speaking to the media in Durban, ahead of their friendly against Banyana Banyana, Benstiti says it’s important that women’s football be taken seriously.

"I think it was unbelievable that we treated women's football in Africa like this. I've coached all over the world, and I think we are late and we have to treat women's football – and women – better than CAF did it," said Benstiti.

"I think there are two problems – one, when you have WAFCON, it's to [qualify] for the World Cup, and African people are proud and we have to have respect for everybody.

"Secondly, we have to respect women's football – we can say that, of course, [in terms of] economic, strategic [benefits], men's [football is bigger], it's okay, we know that.

"But it's not a reason to not be very serious with women, it's not a problem of men's compared to women's sports, it's only to be very reasonable all over the world.

"And for us it's very important that we have to be very good with this because we can't do that, and it's very difficult for us coaches to always organise our calendar, we have to be much more strict." 

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Meanwhile, the French-born mentor praised counterpart Desiree Ellis for the work she has done for Banyana since taking over the reins from Vera Pauw back in 2016. 

"This game is really important to be competitive against a very good team because the coach has done a very good job for this eight years [Ed note: 10 years]," he said.

"For us now it's a challenge to give a very good game against South Africa."