The anticipated scheduling of the 2025 African Cup of Nations (CAN) in Morocco has stirred debates surrounding the tournament’s timeline—summer or winter? Recent remarks by Ahmed Yahya, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Vice President, hint at a potential trend favoring a summer event.
The tournament’s hosting period has been a topic of fervent speculation since Morocco was awarded the organization in October. Initially, concerns arose about the competition’s June-July schedule, aligning with FIFA’s inaugural 32-team Club World Cup—an interval fixed since 2019.
However, Patrice Motsepe, CAF President, introduced doubts about the mid-year schedule, pointing out the unfavorable conditions during the rainy season, which led to the postponement of the 2023 tournament in Côte d’Ivoire. He hinted at a collaboration with FIFA to optimize attention on African football.
Ahmed Yahya, in a recent appearance on the show “Talents of Africa” on Canal+ Sport Afrique, provided a clearer perspective.
The CAF Vice President and President of the Mauritanian Football Federation indicated ongoing discussions between CAF and FIFA regarding the event’s scheduling.
“While negotiations are underway between CAF and FIFA to address the overlaps with the Club World Cup in June 2025, we are leaning towards a June-July CAN 2025.
It’s essential for the CAN’s best interests to hold it in the summer, offering more availability of players than in January,” Yahya affirmed.
The sentiment conveyed by Yahya aligns with the preference for a summer tournament, aiming to maximize player availability. The ongoing negotiations between the governing bodies hint at a potential resolution to ensure the best context for African football’s flagship tournament in 2025.
The decision holds the promise of spotlighting the continent’s football talent on the global stage.
#TDA 🌍 – L’idée semble déjà bien avancée : la CAN 2025 au Maroc devrait bien se dérouler au mois de juin et juillet 😏 pic.twitter.com/aQqToMgtfq
— CANAL+ SPORT Afrique (@cplussportafr) October 2, 2023
