CAF on collision course with European clubs

The African Football Confederation (CAF) has switched the dates of the next Africa Cup of Nations finals to January 2024, six months later than scheduled, the ruling body’s president, Patrice Motsepe, said yesterday. He also announced the creation of an African Super League next season, which will be formally launched on 10 August. Both decisions were made at a CAF meeting in Morocco and will likely spark controversy, notably the Cup of Nations dates which again clash with club commitments for many of the players at European clubs. The finals were due to be played in June next year in the Ivory Coast, which remains as host. But concerns over the weather in west Africa in mid-year have dictated a change. “We took a lot of advice and we decided we cannot take a risk,” Motsepe said. “We don’t want to run the risk that our top competition is going to be washed out. January is not the best time because the European clubs do not want to release their players but we have no choice.”