Nigeria’s men’s and women’s senior national teams the Super
Eagles and Super Falcons now know the dates for the next Africa Cup
of Nations (AFCON) and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations
(WAFCON).
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have finally
announced the dates for the upcoming Women’s and Men’s Africa Cup
of Nations tournaments, following months of speculation and
adjustments.
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Dao/BackpagePix
Super Falcons now to play WAFCON in
2025
There was initial confusion regarding the Women’s Africa Cup of
Nations, originally planned for 2024. CAF confirmed a reschedule
during a virtual meeting on June 21, 2024.
The tournament will now be held in Morocco from June 5 to June
26, 2025, due to a busy calendar for women’s football necessitated
adjustments.
This rescheduling marks the first time the Women’s tournament
will be moved from its original dates.
Hosts Morocco, along with South Africa,
Nigeria, Botswana, Zambia, Ghana, Algeria, Tunisia, DR Congo,
Senegal, Tanzania, and Mali, have already qualified for the
tournament.
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Sport
South Africa, the reigning champions after their 2-1 victory
over Morocco in 2022, will now get to defend their title a year
later.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons remain the most decorated team in
the competition’s history, boasting an impressive 11 titles.
Super Eagles face winter AFCON in
2025/26
The men’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are set to begin in
September 2024. However, the tournament itself has been moved from
its usual January slot to a winter timeframe.
The decisions taken by CAF follows FIFA’s announcement of the
Club World Cup dates in 2025, creating a scheduling conflict.
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Sport
CAF has opted to stage the Men’s Africa Cup of Nations between
December 18, 2025, and January 18, 2026. Morocco will still serve
as the host nation, with the tournament draw already announced for
July 4, 2024, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Ivory Coast will enter the competition as defending
champions, having secured a 2-1 victory over
Nigeria in the most recent edition they hosted.
Significance and impact
For the women’s tournament, the delay allows for better
preparation time and potentially a more competitive environment,
considering the overlap with other major women’s football
events.
The rescheduling came with mixed feelings among women’s football
enthusiasts on social media, with a lot saying CAF does not give
much respect to the women’s game based on how long it took them to
make a decision on the dates for this year’s WAFCON.
For the men’s tournament, the shift to a winter schedule is with
a view to ensuring top players can participate in both major events
without conflicts. It would also benefit the European clubs that
employ many African stars, as it reduces the mid-season disruptions
that typically occur when players are called up for the January
AFCON.
Source link : https://www.afrik-foot.com/en-ng/caf-announces-tournament-dates-super-eagles-super-falcons-get-afcon-wafcon-dates
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Publish date : 2024-06-21 15:33:42
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