CAF Announces New Dates For 2025 AFCON In Morocco

Published

1 year ago

June 22, 2024

The next Africa Cup of Nations will be played in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe said on Friday.

“I am confident that the CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 will be extremely successful and the best AFCON in the history of this competition,” he said.

CAF held a virtual executive committee at their headquarters in Cairo on Friday evening after which Motsepe made the announcement.

Originally scheduled for June and July 2025, the AFCON was moved to avoid a clash with the inaugural Club World Cup in the United States from June 15 to July 13 next year.

An added challenge for CAF officials was the desire to avoid a clash of dates with the UEFA Champions League in Europe.

Matchday six of the elite European club competition ends on December 11 2025 and matchday seven begins on January 21 2026.

However, the new dates are sure to upset many Premier League clubs as the Christmas-New Year period is frenetic with teams playing many matches in a short period.

English media reports have suggested clubs might not release African stars as they are compelled to do so for only one international championship per year and the next World Cup is in 2026.

CAF could argue that it is the 2025 AFCON, although most of the tournament will be staged the following year.

Finding suitable dates for the AFCON, a 24-nation tournament won by hosts the Ivory Coast last February, has become increasingly difficult.

A switch to mid year worked for the 2019 edition in the searing heat of Egypt in so far as it avoided a clash with the European club seasons.

Dramatic profit increase

However, the two subsequent editions, in Cameroon and the Ivory Coast, had to be staged in January and February to avoid the rainy seasons in central and west Africa.

The qualifying draw for the 2025 AFCON is scheduled for Johannesburg on July 4 with 48 hopefuls to be divided into 12 groups.

Morocco will take part to gain competitive match practice, but are guaranteed a place at the 24-team finals as hosts.

Unlike the four-yearly European Championship, Copa America and Asian Cup, the AFCON is held every two years because it delivers most of the CAF revenue.

In a recent TV interview, Motsepe said CAF made an $80 million (€75 million) profit from the last AFCON, hosted by the Ivory Coast in January and February this year.

This was a dramatic increase from previous editions, which produced an average profit of about four million dollars, according to the South African billionaire.

The 2024 Women’s AFCON (WAFCON) has also been postponed and will now be played in Morocco from July 5-26 next year.

New dates will also have to be found for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), originally scheduled for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda this year.

Not even the qualifying draw has been made for a competition restricted to home-based footballers and won by Senegal in Algeria last year, and CAF have not explained the delay.

There has also been no news from CAF on a second edition of the African Football League (AFL), initially called the African Super League.

Planned to be a 24-club mini-league and knockout competition featuring the highest ranked clubs in the continent, it debuted last year with just eight sides involved in a three-round affair.

Were the original format to be introduced, clubs would play between 14 and 21 matches in a continent where air travel presents challenges due to limited direct flights between countries.

“You can turn the lights off on domestic football if this (AFL) goes ahead,” warned John Comitis, the chairman of top-flight South African club Cape Town City.

AFP

‎Osaze Urhoghide Wins FC Dallas MLS Defender Of The Season

Published

24 minutes ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

Dutch-born defender, Osaze Urhoghide, has been announced FC Dallas Defender of the Year.

The defender, was said to have played a pivotal role for Major League Soccer (MLS), gaint, earning him player of the week on the last day of the season alongside Leo Messi who plays for Inter Miami.

Osaze got a decisive goal in the second of the season, which placed his team in the playoffs, before losing to German Thomas Mulier team FC Vancouver.
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The Dutch-born defender, with parents from Edo State, has finally found stability with FC Dallas after a turbulent start to his career, which saw him play for several clubs in Europe, including Celtic in Scotland, Ostende in Belgium, and Amiens in France.

This season, he played 31 matches and scored two goals, helping FC Dallas achieve success.
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‎His impressive performances have earned him the Player of the Year award and recognition as the best defender for his club in the league.
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‎”Winning the Defender of the Season award is a great honor, but it’s not just about individual accolades,” Osaze said. “It’s about the team, and I’m proud to have been part of a successful season with FC Dallas. I’m looking forward to bringing that success next season or at the international level if invited.

READ ALSO:I Don’t Owe Davido Apology – Ruger On Alleged Rift With Colleague
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‎When asked about his plans for the off-season, Osaze revealed that he intends to help Nigerians and engage in charity work.

“I want to give back to the community and inspire young Nigerian kids to pursue their dreams. Football is a powerful tool for social change, and I want to be part of it.”
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Some football analysts of the opinion that ‎Osazee’s call-up to the Super Eagles would be a refreshing and significant boost to the team’s chances in the Nations Cup.

The believed with his experience, skill, and determination, he would be a valuable addition to the squad.

Sports

Nigeria Coach Blames ‘Voodoo’ After World Cup Hopes Crushed

Published

2 days ago

November 17, 2025

Editor

Nigeria’s football coach has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo of practising “voodoo” after his squad’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup ended in a penalty shootout loss.

DR Congo and Nigeria drew 1-1 after extra time in the African play-offs final in Rabat on Sunday and the central Africans won 4-3 on penalties to book a place in inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico next March.

In his post-match remarks to journalists, coach Eric Chelle said a member of the DR Congo team “did some voodoo, every time, every time, every time”.

“That is why I was a bit nervous,” said former Mali international Chelle, who boasts four wins and two draws in competitive matches since taking charge of the Super Eagles.

Chelle had admitted prior to the match that it was going to “be very difficult in Morocco”.

Using hand gestures, he said he saw a DR Congo member waving his hand as if sprinkling or shaking something. “I don’t know if it’s water or something like that.”

In a nervy shootout in which four spot-kicks were saved and another missed, DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba defied a bottle thrown toward him and torrential rain to convert the winning penalty as his country seek a return to the global showpiece after a lengthy absence.

Nigeria, an African football giant, lie 19 places above DR Congo in the world rankings and were pre-match favourites.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the second World Cup in a row. They had not missed back-to-back editions since their debut in 1994.

While Nigeria have been regular participants at the World Cup, the sole appearance by the Congolese came in 1974 when the mineral-rich central African country was called Zaire.

Frank Onyeka opened the scoring for Nigeria in the 3rd minute before Mechak Elia equalised in the 32nd minute for the Leopards.

Nigeria and the DRC created scoring chances, with Tolu Arokodare’s header for Nigeria and Nwabali making a crucial save from the Leopards free kick.

Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon had missed their chances early in the match and Nwabali was at his best when he denied the leoprads their two penalty kicks.

Nwabali’s two saves in the shootout was not enough to cancel out misses from Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi.

Chancel Mbemba scored the winning penalty kick to send the Leopards into the intercontinental playoffs for the World Cup.

Sports

Super Eagles’ 2026 World Cup Dream Ends In Penalty Shoot-out Loss To DR Congo

Published

3 days ago

November 17, 2025

Editor

Nigeria will not be at the 2026 World Cup after they lost the CAF playoff final to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday night.

The Super Eagles took an early lead in the first half after Frank Onyeka’s shot was deflected in.

But the Leopards were level after Mechak Elia pounced on a defensive error to finish past Stanley Nwabali.

The game ended 1-1 after 120 minutes and was decided on penalties.

Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi all missed their kicks as DR Congo clinched the ticket to represent Africa at the intercontinental playoffs.

They will now play in a six-team intercontinental qualifier, which will be staged from March 23 to 31 in 2026 to decide the final two sides for next year’s World Cup.