CAF postpones AFCON 2023; cites weather concerns
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has again shifted the continent’s flagship tournament, African Cup of Nations (AFCON) to 2023.
The 34th edition of AFCON was billed to be held in the summer of 2023 in Cote d’Ivoire after Cameroon relinquished its hosting rights, forcing an initial change in the original schedule.
In an official statement released on CAF’s website, the African football governing body cited severe weather conditions as the reason for the latest shift.
“The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will now be played between January and February 2024,” CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe told a press conference in Morocco.
“This is one of the issues we discussed during our congress meeting here in Morocco, and the official dates will be communicated later.
“It is after deliberations we came into the decision, we have partners, and even though we make decisions, it is out of respect that we take the advice we are getting that we cannot take a risk [to host the tournament] and so that is why we have made the necessary announcement 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, so we have to postpone it. 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.”
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