The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has been postponed, MySportDab reports.
CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba confirmed the postponement, citing the challenge of holding the tournament immediately after the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
According to the football chief, its an impossibility to hold the tournament as scheduled as player may be not be able to turn up a few weeks after playing in FIFA Club World Cup.
“We could play the AFCON after the Club World Cup, but would it be in the interest of the players, who played the whole season, to go to America and return immediately to participate in the AFCON afterwards?,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
The tournament has now been shifted to January 2026 but it is understood the rescheduling has already stirred waves in Europe with European leagues hesitant on releasing their players for the tournament.
In January, league action would be in top gear, hence club chiefs are hesitant of missing their key players in such crucial stage in the campaign.
MySportDab understands some domestic league administrators in Europe have kicked against FIFA’s decision to hold the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup due to the pressure it will mount on players and club management as a whole.
Specifically, the LaLiga and the Premier League have threatened to boycott the competition, withdrawing their clubs due to the likely toll it will take on them, and by extension the negative ripple effects on club football management.
With AFCON now shifted to January 2026, it will further rile up the tentacles of opposition to the FIFA Club World Cup by European leagues.
However, it is understood FIFA are in no way ready to call off the tournament but are reportedly plotting moves to force domestic leagues to reduce teams to a maximum of 18 not 20.
