The year 2025 promises to be exceptional for African football, with a multitude of prestigious competitions organized by CAF and the participation of teams from the continent in major FIFA tournaments.
From the iconic CAF African Cup of Nations (CAN) to championships reserved for young talents and club competitions, the football calendar promises to be rich and captivating.
CAF competitions
The competitions will kick off with the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN), scheduled from February 1 to 28, 2025, and jointly organized by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This tournament, honoring players playing in their national leagues, symbolizes CAF’s commitment to the development of local football.
The CAF African Cup of Nations (CAN), CAF’s flagship event, will be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. This unmissable event will bring together the continent’s best national teams in a competition where excellence and rivalry will be in the spotlight.
Before this event, Morocco will also host the Women’s African Cup of Nations (Women’s CAN) from July 5 to 26, an edition which will highlight the rise of women’s football in Africa.
On the beaches of Seychelles, the Beach Soccer World Cup, organized from May 1 to 11, will see Senegal and Mauritania compete to write their names in the history of this spectacular discipline.
Morocco fans
Furthermore, the U17 women’s and U17 men’s World Cups will take place respectively in Morocco in October and in Qatar in November, offering young African talents a unique opportunity to shine on the world stage.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers will also punctuate the year, with matches scheduled for March, August, September and October. This decisive journey will test the ambitions of African teams for a place in the global competition.
With this varied and ambitious program, 2025 promises to be a milestone for African football, both on the continental and international scenes.
The brilliance of youth and club football
Youth football will take center stage in 2025, with the organization of the U17 CAN in Morocco from March 30 to April 19, followed by the U20 CAN in Ivory Coast from April 26 to May 25. These competitions will also serve as springboards for qualifications for the FIFA U17 and U20 World Cups, confirming CAF’s role in promoting emerging talents.
On the club side, the CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Women’s Champions League will maintain their appeal for enthusiasts, culminating with the CAF Super Cup, where the champions of the two flagship competitions will face off in a expected duel.
Africa in the spotlight in FIFA competitions
On a global level, Africa will be well represented during the FIFA Club World Cup, organized in the United States from June 14 to July 13. The prestigious Al Ahly, ES Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad AC will fly the colors of the continent against renowned opponents such as Manchester City and Real Madrid.
At the same time, Africa’s quest for qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will reach its climax, with decisive stages planned for March, September and October. This course will be marked by intensity and high-level competition, reflecting the growing aspirations of the continent’s teams.
Thus, 2025 promises to be a pivotal and dazzling year for African football, combining a diversity of major competitions and increased visibility on the continental and international scenes.
Source : cafonline.com
