Algeria Foot – The postponement of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco from the summer of 2025 to the winter of 2025-2026 has triggered strong reactions and serious accusations against the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Patrice Motsepe, president of CAF, is criticized for his inability to defend the interests of African football and for his allegiance to FIFA.
Originally scheduled for June 10 to July 10, 2025, the CAN was postponed due to a conflict of dates with the FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled in the United States from June 15 to July 13, 2025. This decision generated controversy, with several observers denouncing a lack of consultation and questionable motivations.
Motsepe is accused of sacrificing African interests for his personal ambitions and of bowing to pressure from FIFA. Some suggest that FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s support for Motsepe’s election to CAF created a moral debt, incentivizing Motsepe not to oppose FIFA’s decisions.
FIFA’s influence over CAF is at the heart of the debates, calling into question CAF’s independence. The postponement of the AFCON to accommodate the Club World Cup is seen as a loss of autonomy for African football. This change of calendar disrupts the schedules of national teams, local leagues and players playing in Europe, exacerbating tensions with European clubs. The awarding of the 2025 AFCON to Morocco also raises legal questions and accusations of behind-the-scenes maneuvering.
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