Nigeria's men's and women's senior national teams the Super Eagles and Super Falcons now know the dates for the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have finally announced the dates for the upcoming Women's and Men's Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, following months of speculation and adjustments.
Super Falcons now to play WAFCON in 2025
There was initial confusion regarding the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, originally planned for 2024. CAF confirmed a reschedule during a virtual meeting on June 21, 2024.
The tournament will now be held in Morocco from June 5 to June 26, 2025, due to a busy calendar for women's football necessitated adjustments.
This rescheduling marks the first time the Women’s tournament will be moved from its original dates.
Hosts Morocco, along with South Africa, Nigeria, Botswana, Zambia, Ghana, Algeria, Tunisia, DR Congo, Senegal, Tanzania, and Mali, have already qualified for the tournament.
South Africa, the reigning champions after their 2-1 victory over Morocco in 2022, will now get to defend their title a year later.
Nigeria's Super Falcons remain the most decorated team in the competition's history, boasting an impressive 11 titles.
Super Eagles face winter AFCON in 2025/26
The men's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are set to begin in September 2024. However, the tournament itself has been moved from its usual January slot to a winter timeframe.
The decisions taken by CAF follows FIFA's announcement of the Club World Cup dates in 2025, creating a scheduling conflict.
CAF has opted to stage the Men's Africa Cup of Nations between December 18, 2025, and January 18, 2026. Morocco will still serve as the host nation, with the tournament draw already announced for July 4, 2024, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Ivory Coast will enter the competition as defending champions, having secured a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the most recent edition they hosted.
Significance and impact
For the women's tournament, the delay allows for better preparation time and potentially a more competitive environment, considering the overlap with other major women's football events.
The rescheduling came with mixed feelings among women's football enthusiasts on social media, with a lot saying CAF does not give much respect to the women's game based on how long it took them to make a decision on the dates for this year's WAFCON.
For the men's tournament, the shift to a winter schedule is with a view to ensuring top players can participate in both major events without conflicts. It would also benefit the European clubs that employ many African stars, as it reduces the mid-season disruptions that typically occur when players are called up for the January AFCON.
