French specialist Romain Molina expressed his dissatisfaction on Twitter regarding the new dates of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) in Morocco.
“As announced, the CAN will indeed start in December, specifically on the 21st, to finish on January 18th to ‘facilitate’ the schedule desired by Infantino, FIFA & UEFA…,” he tweeted, denouncing what he sees as a decision influenced by interests outside African football.
Scheduled to be held in Morocco, the 2025 CAN will take place in winter for the first time, a decision made after FIFA banned the tournament from being held in summer, which is reserved for the Club World Cup. This constraint forced CAF to revise its calendar, leading to a wave of criticism from experts and fans.
Molina points fingers at the influence of FIFA and UEFA in this decision, suggesting that global football governing bodies prioritize their own competitions over African tournaments. This change in dates could disrupt local and international leagues, creating additional tensions for clubs and players.
Comme annoncé, la CAN débutera bien en décembre, en l'occurrence le 21, pour terminer le 18 janvier et "faciliter" le calendrier voulu par Infantino, la FIFA & l'UEFA… https://t.co/84eVALh9SE
— Romain Molina (@Romain_Molina) June 21, 2024
Reactions to Molina’s outburst vary, but many share concerns about the future of African competitions. Despite these controversies, the 2025 CAN promises to be a memorable event in Morocco, yet debates over its schedule are likely to persist.
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