What is the reason for hosting Afcon in December?

The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is set to occur from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, in Morocco. Originally planned as a mid-year event to minimize scheduling conflicts with European club competitions, changes were made for this iteration.

Shift in Scheduling

This tournament was initially aimed at promoting tourism and showcasing Morocco’s capabilities ahead of its role as a co-host for the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. However, it was moved to December to accommodate FIFA’s newly expanded Club World Cup slated for the summer months.

Shifting the tournament’s kickoff to December prevents overlaps with the Champions League and Europa League, which resume their schedules on January 20 and 22, respectively. This upcoming Afcon will be the first to be conducted during this time frame, utilizing venues in Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, and Fez. Notably, there will be no games scheduled for Christmas Day.

Preparation Timeline and Coach Concerns

Players involved in Afcon will be released from their clubs on December 15, resulting in only a week of preparation for the teams before the tournament commences. This has drawn ire from coaches, as the limited training period complicates team preparation. Angola’s coach, Patrice Beaumelle, labeled the situation as “nonsense,” arguing that “you can’t prepare a serious team in just two or three sessions.” The previous Afcon took place in the summer during the 2019 tournament in Egypt.

Why is Afcon Typically Scheduled in Winter?

Afcon has traditionally been held in the winter, mostly between January and February, primarily due to the diverse climate conditions across Africa. The summer months often bring heavy rainfall and extreme heat, adversely affecting pitch conditions and play. The winter months offer drier weather and more stable temperatures for matches.

For instance, the 2023 tournament that took place in Ivory Coast was originally set for the summer of 2022 but was postponed to early the following year because of unfavorable weather. Hosting Afcon in the winter also allows it to avoid clashing with other major international tournaments that are commonly held during the summer months, though this scheduling has led to conflicts for European clubs needing to release their players mid-season.

Rationale for Biannual Hosting of Afcon

Historically, the Africa Cup of Nations has been staged every two years. Since its inception in 1957, African teams did not automatically qualify for the World Cup. Over time, the number of African nations participating in the World Cup has increased. Maintaining a biannual schedule ensures consistent revenue from both tournaments and tourism while providing frequent competition opportunities for teams and players.

However, it has been proposed that future editions of Afcon will transition to a quadrennial format to align with other international football tournaments. In 2020, FIFA president Gianni Infantino recommended this change to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), suggesting that Afcon could be organized within a September to November window.

On December 20, the day before the commencement of this year’s tournament, CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced that beginning in 2028, Afcon will be held every four years.

Additional Inquiries

For further questions, consider these topics:

• Spain vs. Argentina in the Finalissima: What to expect?
• Which players from the Premier League are participating in Afcon?
• How to keep up with Premier League action on the BBC this weekend?

Related Topics

• African Sports
• Football