Confederation of African Football (CAF) acting Secretary-General Abdel-Moneim Bah revealed that the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) that will be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire will be held in the summer.
“The 2023 Nations Cup is planned for June/July because, to make it clear, in the regulations we have decided to play all Nations Cups in June/July,” Bah told BBC.
The timing of the competition has been the subject of speculation after President Ahmad stated in June that it would take place in 2023 while saying he ‘did not know what month’.
Traditionally the African Cup was held in the winter due to the climatic conditions on the continent, but in 2017 CAF amended its regulations to switch to a June/July calendar for the biennial tournament.
Abdelmounaim Bah 🇲🇦 (CAF SG): “Until today, AFCON 2023 is scheduled for June/July in accordance with the competition regulations.” pic.twitter.com/eXlH23hNaY
— SOCCER212 (@SCCR_212) July 16, 2020
The 2019 AFCON which was hosted by Egypt was held in the summer for the first time.
However, CAF announced the 2021 AFCON would be switched back to January. This Cameroon edition has been postponed until 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic that put all the continental schedules on hold.
“The Nations Cup in Cameroon, after the request of the authorities, was postponed to January/February,” added Bah.
“Until today, we haven’t received the same request from the Ivorian authorities,” the Moroccan concluded.
The next Nations Cup will take place in January 2022 however owing to unfavourable weather conditions in Cameroon in June and July, when the host country suffers some of the wettest months of the year.
