Various local reports stressed this week that the Executive Committee of the African Football Union is leaning towards postponing the Africa Cup of Nations 2025. This move is reportedly due to the timing of the tournament, which conflicts with the new edition of the FIFA Club World Cup featuring 32 teams.
Journalist Micky Jnr, known to be close to the inner workings of CAF, stated that the Executive Committee is mulling over moving the tournament to January 2026. He quoted this information in a post on his official ‘X’ site, stating: “We’ve been informed that the next Africa Cup of Nations will be held in January 2026 instead of June 2025”.
Fouzi Lekjaa, the head of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, who won the bid to host the tournament, had previously asserted that it would take place in the summer coinciding both with the Throne Day celebrations and the annual visit of thousands Moroccans living abroad part of their summer holidays. In the same vein, CAF President Patrice Motsepe, underlined the necessity for the competition to be held at the appropriate time. He mentioned continuous discussions with FIFA about the tournament date.
The final decision will be awaited, following more consultations between Lekjaa, Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the coming days.
