The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has recently announced its decision to reschedule the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2025, originally planned to be hosted in Morocco, from its initial slot in July to December of the same year. This adjustment comes in response to various factors, as highlighted by Egyptian journalist H. Amir during his +90 Sports Show and reported by Sports World Ghana.
Initially, CAF had intended to hold the tournament during the summer months of 2025. However, concerns arose regarding a potential clash with the newly expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in the USA. To avoid this overlap and ensure optimal participation and viewership, CAF opted to shift the AFCON to December.
Morocco secured the bid to host the prestigious tournament, triumphing over a joint bid from Nigeria and Benin, while Algeria withdrew its bid. Traditionally, the AFCON has been held in January-February, although the 2019 edition, hosted in Egypt, deviated from this pattern by taking place in June and July.
The timing of the tournament has always been a contentious issue, particularly concerning European clubs, who face dilemmas regarding the release of key players during their domestic seasons. This adjustment aims to mitigate such concerns while maintaining the excitement and competitiveness of the AFCON on the global football calendar.