The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been postponed by six months, now set to take place in early 2026 in Morocco. The tournament, originally scheduled for June 2025, conflicted with the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, which is slated to be held in the United States from June 15 to July 13.

CAF’s general secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba, announced the new schedule, highlighting significant challenges in coordinating dates. The rescheduling aims to avoid conflicts and ensure the well-being of players, who would otherwise face back-to-back tournaments.

This delay impacts Morocco’s plans to showcase its tourism industry and readiness to host major events ahead of the 2030 World Cup, which it will co-host with Portugal and Spain. Mosengo-Omba emphasized the need to prioritize player welfare, acknowledging the difficulties in managing such a congested schedule. “We must ensure that the dates are in the players’ best interests,” he said.

In addition, CAF has yet to finalize the dates for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), also to be held in Morocco. An announcement is expected by the end of the month, with potential adjustments to accommodate teams participating in the Olympics. South Africa, the reigning WAFCON champions, are among the affected teams.

Further uncertainty surrounds the second edition of the African Football League, Africa’s new super league. While the first edition featured eight clubs in a two-month knockout format, CAF President Patrice Motsepe had promised an expansion to 24 teams. However, the African Champions League and Confederation Cup group stages will now occupy the October to December period initially planned for the African Football League.

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