The scheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations has long been a subject of debate, particularly among European clubs, who often lose key African players mid-season to national team duty.
Many have suggested holding the tournament during the June/July window when European leagues are on break, providing players with the opportunity to represent their countries without disrupting club commitments.
However, for decades, the tournament has been held in the first three months of the year due to climatic conditions, which differ significantly from those in Europe.
Recent editions held in Cameroon and Ivory Coast were scheduled for January and February to avoid rainy seasons in those countries.
Following the success of the Ivory Coast tournament, discussions have reignited, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino reportedly proposing to reschedule the 2025 edition hosted by Morocco to a different date or move it to 2026.
The 2025 AFCON in Morocco is currently slated for July 23 to August 21, a departure from the previous two editions' timing, which raises concerns for Infantino.
FIFA also faces a scheduling clash, as the Club World Cup is set to take place from June 15 to July 13, just days before the AFCON begins.
In December, FIFA announced plans to expand the Club World Cup to 32 teams, to be held in June and June, potentially complicating matters for the AFCON in terms of logistics and viewership.
This scheduling conflict poses a challenge, particularly for countries like Morocco and Egypt, whose clubs, Al Ahly and Wydad Casablanca, respectively, are set to participate in the Club World Cup, with national team players among their ranks.
“We want the Cup of Nations to take place when it is most favorable and convenient for the tournament,” stated CAF president Patrice Motsepe last month, emphasizing ongoing discussions with FIFA about the dates.
Amidst this uncertainty, there remains the issue of fixture congestion for national teams, especially with CAF confirming that qualification for the 2025 AFCON will begin next month.
The qualification process will commence with preliminary rounds for lower-ranked countries, with winners progressing to the group phase, featuring 12 groups of four countries each.
Morocco, as the host nation, will also compete in the preliminary rounds, adding an extra layer of competition.
According to sources from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), plans are in place to conclude the Cup of Nations qualifiers by the end of the year.
Group matches are scheduled across three international windows: September 2-10, October 7-15, and November 11-19, with each team playing two games per window.
Meanwhile, for the World Cup qualifiers, the Super Eagles will host South Africa on June 3, followed by an away trip to Benin seven days later.
The World Cup qualifiers then resume in March 2025, providing Nigeria with five crucial games before the year's end, with World Cup and AFCON berths at stake.
However, uncertainty looms over the exact dates for the AFCON, as negotiations between FIFA and CAF continue in search of a compromise.
