By Sulaimon Jamiu
Due to weather concerns, the 34th edition of AFCON, which was originally scheduled for June to July next year in Ivory Coast, will now take place between January and February 2024.
Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), confirmed the postponement on the sidelines of the CAF Executive Committee meeting in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday.
“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),” he told journalists.
“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.”
Interestingly, this is the second time the AFCON has been rescheduled at the start of the year since CAF decided to align itself with European calendars.
This time, weather concerns drove the decision. The Ivorian meteorological agency predicted heavy rain in many areas of the country where the stadiums will be built. Ivory Coast has a tropical climate, and June is the wettest month.
The last edition of the AFCON was held in Cameroon, where Sadio Mane’s Senegal emerged the winners.
