CAF pushes TotalEnergies Africa Cup Of Nations finals to 2024

CAF boss Motsepe (independent.co.ug)

Rabat, Morocco | THE INDEPENDENT | The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr. Patrice Motsepe has announced that the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 will now be played in 2024.

The 34th edition of Africa’s biggest football showpiece was meant to take place in Ivory Coast next June to July.

“The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will now be played between January and February 2024,” said Dr. Mostepe during a press conference in Rabat, Morocco today.

Dr. Motsepe made it clear that the issue of the AFCON is among the items they discussed during the Executive Meeting today.

“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 and so that is why we have made the necessary announcement today,” he added.

There had been complaints by some quarters that hosting an AFCON in Ivory Coast between June and July would be impossible because of the heavy rains during that period.

“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. 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,” added Dr. Motsepe.

Teams from the CECAFA region Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan are part of the AFCON 2022 qualifiers.

Uganda Cranes kick started the campaign with a 2-0 defeat away to Algeria before drawing settling for a 1-1 home draw against Niger.