Confusion over AFCON 2025 dates as CAF rejects postponement reports
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has refuted recent reports concerning the scheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025.
In a statement issued on X on Wednesday 5 June 2024, the Africa football governing body emphasised that the information circulating about the tournament dates is inaccurate.
“Reports on AFCON 2025 are untrue,” CAF said. “The CAF Executive Committee will meet, deliberate and make a decision on the AFCON 2025 dates. CAF will thereafter issue official statement on the matter.”
Reports on AFCON 2025 are untrue.
The CAF Executive Committee will meet, deliberate and make a decision on the AFCON 2025 dates.
CAF will thereafter issue official statement on the matter.#CAF #CAFonline pic.twitter.com/Z0XXoIyvLi— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) June 5, 2024
The denial comes in response to reports from Reuters and the BBC, which claimed that the next Africa Cup of Nations finals would be postponed by six months to early 2026.
According to these reports, the 2025 finals in Morocco, originally scheduled for June, were to be moved due to a clash with the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, set to be held in the U.S. from 15 June to 13 July 2026.
Reuters and the BBC highlighted that Africa will have four teams participating in the Club World Cup, with many of those players also expected to compete in the Cup of Nations.
The reports quoted CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba, who allegedly told the BBC that the AFCON finals would indeed be held in early 2026.
According to Reuters, this potential delay would be a significant setback for Morocco, which hoped to use a summer tournament to boost its tourism industry and demonstrate its capability to host major events ahead of the 2030 World Cup, which it will co-host with Portugal and Spain.
“We can play after the Club World Cup, but is this good for the interests of the players who have played all the season and then they travel to America to play (and then) immediately come to play AFCON?” Mosengo-Omba was quoted as saying. He described the scheduling issues as a “nightmare.”
CAF has also faced criticism for its failure to finalise dates for this year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, also in Morocco.
There is also uncertainty surrounding the second edition of the African Football League, with CAF President Patrice Motsepe previously promising an expansion to 24 teams, while CAF recently announced overlapping dates for the African Champions League and Confederation Cup group stages.
CAF said a decision regarding the tournament dates will be made following these discussions and assured that an official statement will be issued to communicate the final decision to the public.
CAF Spokesperson Luxolo September, in a separate statement on X, said the CAF Executive Committee is set to convene soon to deliberate on the matter of AFCON 2025.
AFCON 2025: There is NO CAF position or announcement on the Dates for AFCON 2025.
There are on-going discussions between Stakeholders to find common ground on dates.
CAF EXCO will meet to discuss & take a decision soon. pic.twitter.com/qRAt1yoRPk— Luxolo September (@Lux_September) June 5, 2024