2023 Africa Cup of Nations moved to 2024 due to rainy season- CAF

 

The 2023 African Cup of Nations, AFCON at first planned for Côte d'Ivoire next June will presently be held in January and February 2024 because of the worries over the rainy season in the country.

CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, made the declaration at a press conference held in Morocco on Sunday, July 3.

"The 2023 AFCON will now be played between January and February 2024," Mostepe told the media.

"This is one of the issues we talked about during our congress meeting here in Morocco and the authority dates will be imparted later.

"It is after consultations we came into the decision, we have partners and despite the fact that we simply decide, it is out of respect that we take the advice we are getting that we can't face a challenge (to have the competition) thus to that end we have made the vital declaration today (Sunday).

"It is not good for African football to play a tournament that can be washed out, it is not good for Africa and the continent at large and so we have to postpone it."

Motsepe, nonetheless, commended Ivory Coast for the arrangements they have previously set up to organize the competition.

"I am happy and impressed with the infrastructure put in place by Ivory Coast in readiness for the tournament and I am sure they will host a very good tournament," Motsepe proceeded.

He additionally declared changes in Champions League and Confederation Cup finals while the continental football administering body likewise affirmed the host countries for the CAF Women's Champions League, Futsal Football among others.

Aside the decision to defer the 2023 AFCON, the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup finals were reverted to home and away format.

CAF affirmed that the second edition of the CAF Women's Champions League will hold additionally at Morocco in October; Mozambique will host Futsal AFCON while Beach Soccer AFCON has been granted to Egypt.