AFCON 2025 Update: Morocco to Host Tournament
Speculation is emerging that the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled for January-February 2025 might be shifted to the summer months, specifically in July and August. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has tentatively approved this proposal to avoid clashes with the first 32-team Club World Cup set for June 2025.
While CAF President Patrice Motsepe has refrained from providing specific dates for the rescheduled AFCON, an official from the committee overseeing competitions indicated on Monday that there is “an agreement in principle between CAF and the Moroccan Football Federation for the CAN to be held during the summer, more precisely in July and August” in 2025.
This wouldn’t be the first time the AFCON has faced postponement. The previous two editions, AFCON 2021 and AFCON 2023, were both rescheduled. AFCON 2021 was eventually played in January-February 2022 in Cameroon, and the most recent edition, officially named AFCON 2023, commenced on January 13 in Côte d’Ivoire, concluding with the host country claiming victory a week ago.
Notably, the qualification process for AFCON 2025 has yet to commence, with a preliminary round scheduled from March 18 to 26, according to the CAF calendar. The potential shift to a summer schedule aligns with efforts to navigate around the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup, underlining the complex logistics involved in coordinating major football events on the African continent.
