The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a new date for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) during a virtual executive meeting that took place on Friday.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The competition was rescheduled from its original summer 2025 date to avoid conflicting with the FIFA Club World Cup expansion.
The qualifying matches for the 2025 AFCON will take place in September and October of 2024, and the draw will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, the following month.
The competition’s host nation, Morocco, has been chosen.
Nigeria lost 2-1 against the hosts in the championship match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where they placed second overall.
Despite the loss, Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament. Troost-Ekong, a centre-back with Greece champions PAOK, scored three crucial goals, helping Nigeria reach the AFCON final for the first time in 11 years.
Nigeria’s immediate goal will be to qualify for the 2025 AFCON, after which the Super Eagles will turn their attention towards winning the tournament in Morocco.
The Super Eagles have not won the continental title since 2013 when coach Stephen Keshi led them to victory in South Africa. Nigeria have won the AFCON three times before, with victories in 1980, 1994, and 2013.
 during a virtual executive meeting that took place on Friday.){kind=link}