The delay in determining the timing of the tournament is to avoid overlapping schedules with other sporting events, namely the FIFA Club World Cup in the US.
Veron Mosengo-Omba, the Secretary General of the CAF, disclosed that the African Football Federation is currently engaged in discussions with various stakeholders to establish the schedule for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to be held in Morocco.
In a statement relayed via Kenyan sports journalist Eric Njiru on X (formerly Twitter), Mosengo-Omba highlighted ongoing talks between CAF, FIFA, and the European Clubs Association. He further noted that Moroccan authorities are yet to confirm the event’s timing.
Mosengo-Omba stressed that while preparations for the esteemed tournament are underway, CAF has yet to confirm the precise date for the AFCON finals.
He elaborated that the announcement delay is aimed at preventing potential clashes with other significant international events, notably the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, scheduled for the summer of 2025, featuring 32 participating teams.
“In order to see when we have the final [we] need also to meet the players. They need to rest after this competition. So the discussion is still ongoing” Mosengo-Omba stated. Players who play for the national teams participating in the AFCON also play for FIFA international clubs, posing a challenge in timing to make sure that they can perform in both tournaments.
Patrice Motsepe, President of CAF, echoed Mosengo-Omba’s statement, emphasizing the importance of finding a suitable date to avoid conflicting with major global events.
Results 🟰 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘 ✍️
— CAF (@CAF_Online) February 20, 2024
Here’s how it stands out after the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 preliminary round draw! ✔️ #TotalEnergiesAFCON pic.twitter.com/3eYzRNDILR
