CAF and FIFA agree to summer AFCON 2025, easing concerns for european clubs – Footymercato.com

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) have come to a groundbreaking agreement in principle, paving the way for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 to be held during the summer months. Former France Football reporter, Hanif Ben Berkane, disclosed that the tournament could potentially take place between mid-July and mid-August 2025.

This move comes in response to long-standing concerns, particularly from European clubs, regarding the timing of the AFCON. Traditionally staged between January and February, the tournament often clashed with the European football season, leading to frustrations among club owners and coaches who had to do without their key African players during crucial matches.

The last time the AFCON was held in the summer was during the 2019 edition in Egypt, and its success highlighted the potential benefits of such scheduling adjustments.

With this agreement between CAF and FIFA, European clubs are likely to welcome the news, as it ensures a smoother integration of African players into their squads during the summer transfer window and crucial stages of the season.

Meanwhile, preparations for AFCON 2025 are already underway, with qualifiers set to kick off in March 2024, starting with the preliminary round.

In a thrilling finale to AFCON 2023, Côte d’Ivoire clinched their third title after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the final