CAF mulls postponing AFCON 2025 final phase amid scheduling concerns
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is facing a dilemma regarding the scheduling of the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025), with speculation arising that the final phase might be postponed to early 2026 due to a crowded football calendar.
As anticipation builds for the 35th edition of the tournament set to be hosted in Morocco, CAF has yet to announce a definitive date, citing logistical challenges posed by the congested sporting calendar in 2025.
One of the primary factors contributing to this uncertainty is FIFA’s inaugural edition of the Club World Cup scheduled to take place in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
This significant event has raised concerns about the availability of players and potential clashes with the AFCON 2025 schedule.
The potential postponement of the final phase of CAN 2025 to early 2026 underscores the complexity of coordinating international football competitions amidst a packed calendar.
As discussions continue within CAF regarding the optimal timing for the tournament, there is an urgent need for the governing body to provide clarity on the matter to stakeholders and fans alike.
One key aspect awaiting clarification is the draw for the CAN 2025 qualifiers. With 48 nations vying for a spot in the tournament, the draw for the group stage of qualifiers has yet to take place.
The participating nations in the qualifiers include Eswatini, Liberia, South Sudan, Chad, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, Republic Central African Republic, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
As football enthusiasts await further updates, the spotlight remains on CAF’s decision-making process as it navigates the complexities of organizing one of Africa’s most prestigious football tournaments amidst a challenging global sporting landscape.
Le CAN 2025, c’est très peu probable qu’elle se joue …Lekjaa l’a chuchoté à demi mots. Je pense qu’elle sera reportée à 2027.
— OUSSOUD ATLAS (@OussoudAl) March 29, 2024
