Fresh uncertainty continues to surround the future of
the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations, as the Confederation of African Football
(CAF) battles serious scheduling challenges that could force major changes—or
even a possible cancellation of the tournament.
Reports from CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt,
indicate that the status of the 2028 edition remains unresolved. CAF’s Executive
Committee is expected to convene an emergency meeting in Rabat, Morocco,
on the night of the final of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations next month,
where a definitive decision is expected.
A senior CAF official disclosed that the Executive
Committee has directed its competitions department to develop a detailed
roadmap for the 2028 tournament. The official noted that if suitable timelines
and international windows cannot be secured, CAF may be compelled to take what
it considers the most appropriate decision in the overall interest of the
competition.
Another source within CAF revealed that discussions
have previously included the possibility of merging the 2027 and 2028 AFCON
tournaments into a single event to be held in 2028. However, the proposal
reportedly failed to gain enough backing and has been shelved pending further
recommendations.
One of the major obstacles remains conflicts with
FIFA’s international match calendar. Hosting AFCON tournaments in
consecutive years poses significant logistical, commercial, and sporting
challenges.
The 2027 AFCON is already scheduled for the
summer and will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda,
leaving CAF with just two available international windows to stage qualifiers
for the 2028 edition if it is held in January or February.
Postponing the 2028 tournament to the summer would
result in a clash with the Los Angeles Olympic Games, while shifting it
to 2029 is considered impractical due to the expanded FIFA Club World
Cup slated for that year.
With limited viable options remaining, CAF’s upcoming
emergency meeting in Rabat is expected to be pivotal in determining the
immediate future of Africa’s flagship football competition.
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