CAF postpones 2023 AFCON Finals to 2024 over weather concerns

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire have been moved to take place in 2024, the Executive Committee of Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Sunday.

The announcement was by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe after the committee meeting in Rabat, Morocco revealing that the tournament will take place in the months of January and February a contrast from the initial schedule set for June 23 to July 23 in 2023.

Motsepe said the competition’s postponement was a direct and sole result of the adverse weather conditions in Côte d’Ivoire, adding that the decision was taken after having received further technical opinion from experts on the adverse effects of staging the matches in that period.

According to technical advice given to him, June and July are rainy seasons in Côte d’Ivoire and therefore the postponement was imminent to ensure the tournament doesn’t get affected.

It means the Nations Cup will be held in January and February for the second time in a row, after this year’s tournament in Cameroon.

In 2017, Caf announced that it would move the finals from their traditional January-February slot to June-July in a bid to avoid repeated disputes with European clubs forced to release players in the middle of the season.

“January is not the ideal time because of the European clubs, but it is the only choice we have,” Motsepe added.

He also announced the creation of an African Super League next season, which will be formally launched on August 10.

“The decision has now been taken to implement the CAF Super League. It will start in August 2023 and we will launch it during CAF’s 44th Ordinary Assembly in Tanzania on August 10,” he said.

Adding that; “We have been inundated with investors and sponsors, who are anxious to partner with us on the CAF Super League. It has huge potential to significantly uplift African football and to make it even more powerful.”