CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced on Friday that the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
“I am confident that the CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 will be extremely successful and the best AFCON in the history of this competition,” Motsepe said. The announcement came after a virtual executive committee meeting at CAF headquarters in Cairo.
Jerrymusa.com reports that the tournament was initially scheduled for June and July 2025 but was moved to avoid clashes with the inaugural Club World Cup in the United States and the UEFA Champions League in Europe.
AFCON May Clash With EPL
“We had to find a solution that works for everyone,” said Motsepe. The new dates may cause conflicts with Premier League clubs, which have a busy schedule during the Christmas-New Year period.
English media reports suggest that clubs might not release African players for the tournament, as they are only required to do so for one international championship per year.
However, CAF may argue that the AFCON is a 2025 tournament, despite most of it taking place in 2026. “We will engage with the clubs and stakeholders to find a solution,” said Motsepe.
Finding suitable dates for the AFCON has become increasingly challenging, with the tournament having to avoid rainy seasons in central and west Africa.
The qualifying draw is set for July 4 in Johannesburg, with 48 teams vying for 12 groups. Morocco will participate in the qualifiers but has already secured a spot in the 24-team finals as hosts.
The AFCON generates significant revenue for CAF, with the last edition in the Ivory Coast producing an $80 million profit. “The AFCON is our flagship tournament, and we are committed to making it a success,” said Motsepe.
The 2024 Women’s AFCON has also been rescheduled for July 5-26, 2025, and new dates will be announced for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the African Football League (AFL).