The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the dates for the next editions of the continent’s premier football tournaments – the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) – both set to be held in Morocco.

The highly anticipated AFCON 2025 will kick off on Sunday, December 21st, 2025, with the final match scheduled for Sunday, January 18th, 2026. CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe expressed confidence that this edition will be the “best AFCON in the history of this competition.”

Women’s football continues its exciting growth in Africa, and WAFCON 2024 will showcase the best female players on the continent. The tournament will begin on Saturday, July 5th, 2025, and culminate in the final on Saturday, July 26th, 2025.

The announcement of the AFCON dates highlights the complex considerations involved in scheduling major tournaments. CAF emphasized its commitment to protecting the interests of African players competing in international leagues and fostering positive relationships with other football governing bodies.

Morocco, with its rich footballing history and passionate fanbase, is poised to deliver a memorable tournament experience. CAF expressed its gratitude to King Mohammed VI, the Moroccan Football Federation, and the Moroccan government for their commitment to hosting both AFCON 2025 and WAFCON 2024.

The announcement also included news of the 46th CAF Ordinary General Assembly taking place in Kinshasa, DRC, on October 10th, 2024.

Additionally, CAF opened bidding processes for various events, including the CAF Women’s Champions League 2024, U17 and U20 AFCON tournaments, and the 2024 CAF Awards. The competition to host the CAF TotalEnergies Super Cup 2024, featuring Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Zamalek, has also attracted interest from the Middle East.