Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe refrained from specifying the date for the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco during a press conference in Abidjan on Friday, February 9, 2024.
Despite the initial plan for the tournament in January to February 2025, the Royal Moroccan Federation (FRMF) altered the schedule, announcing that the CAN would take place in the summer of 2025.
Motsepe assured the Moroccan and African populace that the event would be a tremendous success but deferred the formal announcement of the date.
“I’m not going to make an announcement, we’ll do it in due course. My message for the people of Morocco and the people of Africa is that next year’s AFCON will be a huge success.” He said.
Acknowledging the scheduling complexities, Motsepe mentioned a recent meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, highlighting the simultaneous organization of FIFA’s inaugural 32-team Club World Cup in the United States from June 15 to July 13.
Motsepe expressed confidence in finding suitable dates amidst the crowded football calendar.
This uncertainty follows the postponements of the two previous AFCON editions, with the 2021 tournament held in January to February 2022 in Cameroon, and the current edition, officially designated as CAN 2023, commencing on January 13 in Ivory Coast.
The evolving landscape of football competitions poses logistical challenges, emphasizing the need for careful consideration in finalizing the AFCON 2025 schedule.
