The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Sunday the postponement of the African Nations Cup, scheduled in Cote d’Ivoire between June and July 2023, until early 2024.
South African CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced, during a press conference, which followed a meeting of the executive office of the federation in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, that the African Nations Championship “will be held during the months of January and February 2024.”
He attributed the reason to the rainy season in Côte d’Ivoire during the summer months.
The tournament was held for decades at the beginning of the year to avoid heavy rains in many countries of sub-Saharan Africa, before the African Union decided to change its date to summer to be consistent with the international agenda.
After Egypt hosted the 2019 championship during the months of June and July, the subsequent tournament in Cameroon was postponed to be held last February instead of the supposed date in the summer of 2021.
Holding the tournament in January and February raises several problems with European clubs, for which many African professionals play, and they face a crisis by abandoning them during that crucial time of the local season.
Senegal won the last tournament, for the first time in its history, after defeating Egypt in the final on penalties, after the match ended in a goalless draw.
On the other hand, the Confederation of African Football decided to restore the old system of the African Champions League and Confederation Cup (Confederation Cup), so that the final match will be held in the home and away system, after it was played from one playoff over three editions.
CAF decided to launch a new tournament under the name “African Super League”, to start in the summer of 2023, according to Motsebi.