The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has finally set the record straight on the long-awaited 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON), ending speculation over their scheduling.
On Friday, the CAF Executive Committee confirmed that the prestigious AFCON tournament will be held in Morocco, with the opening match starting on Sunday, December 21, 2025 and the final on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
At least the last three editions of AFCON, including the one hosted by Ivory Coast, suffered postponements before finally taking place.
CAF also announced the dates of the WAFCON, which will be held in Morocco just before the men’s tournament.
Showcasing the growing strength of African women’s football, the women’s competition will begin on Saturday 5 July 2025 and culminate with the final on Saturday 26 July 2025.
“Perfect time”
CAF President Patrice Motsepe expressed his confidence in the success of both tournaments.
“I am sure that the CAF TotalEnergies AFCON Morocco 2025 will be a resounding success, the best in the history of the competition,” he stated. “The immense growth of women’s football in Africa is also impressive, and I hope CAF TotalEnergies WAFCON Morocco 2024 is equally successful.”
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The announcement of the AFCON dates came after lengthy discussions with various interested groups due to the complex domestic and international match schedules.
CAF emphasized its commitment to protecting the interests of African players competing in leagues around the world while fostering strong relationships with organizations such as the European Club Association (ECA), UEFA and FIFA.
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The president of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa, shared his vision: “We hope that the CAF TotalEnergies AFCON Morocco 2025 will be a spectacular event in honor of Africa. “Morocco will offer the best conditions to welcome all of Africa and the world.”
In addition to the tournament dates, the CAF Executive Committee announced that the organization’s 46th Ordinary General Assembly will be held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on Thursday, October 10.