The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reached an agreement in principle to host the 2025 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco in July and August next year, a CAF official told AFP.
Earlier this month, CAF president Patrice Motsepe refused to confirm the dates for the next African Cup of Nations, leaving organizers with little time to hold qualifying tournaments if they are to be held in January and February. It wasn't.
However, holding the tournament in June and July next year would mean a conflict with the FIFA Expanded Club World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in North America.
“There has been an agreement in principle between CAF and the Moroccan Football Federation to hold the Afcon in the summer of 2025, more precisely in July and August,” a member of the competition committee told AFP on condition of anonymity on Monday. ” he said. .
“This agreement was reached with the support of FIFA after discussions that began several months ago and intensified during the previous round of talks that ended this month in Ivory Coast,” the official added.
“The current proposed dates are July 20 to August 16 or 17, 2025.”
The last two African Cups of Nations have both been postponed from their original dates. The 2021 competition was hosted by Cameroon and was held in January and February 2022.
The latest edition was originally scheduled for June and July last year, but was postponed due to weather concerns.
Qualifying for the 2025 Afcon has not yet begun, but qualifying rounds are expected to take place next month, with Somalia vs. Eswatini, Sao Tome and Principe vs. South Sudan, Chad vs. Mauritius and Djibouti vs. Liberia.
