The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced a significant change to the schedule for the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025, shifting the tournament from its anticipated dates to a new timeframe in 2026.
Originally slated for December 21, 2025, in Morocco, the CAN 2025 will now kick off on January 18, 2026, and run until January 18, 2026, due to scheduling conflicts with the first-ever 32-team Club World Cup set for June 2025.
This decision marks the third consecutive postponement of the tournament, following the CAN 2021 in Cameroon and the CAN 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire. CAF’s Executive Committee also disclosed that the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), supported by CAF TotalEnergies, will also be held in Morocco, with dates aligned to avoid overlap with other major football events.
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The adjustment aims to prevent clashes with the expanded UEFA Champions League format, which will see its group stage conclude in mid-December 2025 and resume in late January 2026. This rescheduling intends to accommodate African players who compete in European leagues and continental competitions, ensuring they can participate in both without conflict.
Veron Mosengo-Omba, CAF’s General Secretary, initially denied rumors of postponement but later confirmed the decision after discussions with stakeholders. The unique scheduling of CAN 2025/2026 reflects CAF’s efforts to adapt to global football calendars and optimize participation from African teams amid evolving competition schedules.
This alteration continues a trend of schedule adjustments by CAF since CAN 2012, underscoring the complexities of organizing continental tournaments amidst a packed international football calendar.