The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is nearing an announcement on the potential postponement of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Veron Mosengo-Omba, CAF's Secretary-General, disclosed to the BBC that the tournament might be rescheduled due to significant scheduling conflicts, particularly with the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup set to be held in the United States.
Originally scheduled for June 2025, AFCON now faces a clash with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, which will feature 32 teams and run from June 15 to July 13. Mosengo-Omba acknowledged this pressing issue, emphasizing the need to resolve the conflicting dates. However, no final decision has been made regarding the postponement.
Mosengo-Omba highlighted concerns about player welfare, questioning the feasibility of players participating in both the Club World Cup and AFCON in quick succession. He stated, "For the men, we must ensure that the dates we choose will be in the best interest of the players." He continued, "We need to balance various aspects and discuss with our partners before finalizing the dates. Scheduling is a nightmare for everyone."
In addition to the men's AFCON, CAF has faced criticism for its failure to finalize dates for the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, also scheduled to be held in Morocco. This delay has drawn ire from various stakeholders who stress the importance of timely and clear scheduling for major tournaments.
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