The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has not announced the dates for the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals but has stated that the preliminary round of qualifiers, which will include the bottom eight ranked teams based on the most recent FIFA ranking, will take place during the FIFA window of March 18 to 26, 2024.
However, the tournament’s dates are uncertain due to a potential clash with the new-look FIFA Club World Cup, which is set for mid-2025, according to CAF president Patrice Motsepe.
The 2025 AFCON in Morocco was expected to take place in the middle of the year, but this is now uncertain due to FIFA’s newly expanded Club World Cup, which will feature 32 teams in the United States from June 15 to July 13, potentially clashing dates.
Two African clubs have already qualified for the Club World Cup, Egypt’s Al Ahly and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca.
Motsepe stated that CAF was still deciding on the date but that it would be moved, according to ESPN.
“We want the Cup of Nations to take place when it is most favourable and convenient for the tournament. We are still engaging with FIFA about the dates.”
WAFCON dates unknown
Meanwhile, the 2023 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) dates have also not been announced.
The tournament’s dates could also be changed, given the possibility of a clash with the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will run from July 26 to August 11.
In 2022, the WAFCON was held from July 2 to 23.
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CAF has yet to confirm the dates for this year’s edition, which will be hosted in Morocco for the second time.
