Next AFCON to be staged in middle of 2023-24 European season
The next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in the middle of the 2023-24 European campaign, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced.
The 2023 showpiece was due to get under way in June this year, but it was decided last July it will instead take place in 2024 to avoid hosts Ivory Coast’s rainy season.
CAF confirmed on its official website on Thursday that the delayed tournament will run from January 13 next year until February 11.
It means a number of superstar players from across Europe could potentially miss five weeks' action for their clubs at a busy period next season.
Ivory Coast is hosting the competition for the first time since 1984 and have automatically qualified.
Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, Burkina Faso and defending champions Senegal are the other nations to have already booked their place in the 24-team tournament.
Senegal defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties in the final to win the most recent edition in Cameroon last year.