2024-06-23 05:09:46
The Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) has simply dropped a bombshell: CAN 2025 in Morocco shall be held from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. This choice, which shakes up the standard calendar, raises a storm of questions on the way forward for soccer African and its independence within the face of worldwide pressures.
A battered calendar: Africa bows to FIFA?
As reported by 237online.com, this winter programming is a primary in a long time. The explanation ? Keep away from a battle with the Membership World Cup organized by FIFA in the US from June 15 to July 13, 2025.
“It’s an admission of weak spot of CAF”fumes a former Indomitable Lions participant. “We’re sacrificing our flagship competitors on the altar of FIFA’s pursuits. The place has African satisfaction gone?«
European golf equipment: The massive winners?
This choice appears to go well with European golf equipment, who’ve lengthy been hostile to a CAN in full season. However at what price for African soccer? We now dance in Africa to the rhythm of Europeans. It is as if we had been being advised that our soccer solely has worth when it fits others.
A logistical headache for Morocco
The host nation, Morocco, finds itself dealing with a colossal problem: organizing a significant competitors in the course of the end-of-year holidays.
It’s the gamers who threat paying the excessive value for this upheaval. Between collected fatigue and threat of harm, the specter of a reduced CAN looms massive.
The shadow of neo-colonial domination?
This choice revives the controversy on the independence of African soccer from the world soccer powers.
This unprecedented programming may set a precedent. The 2027 version, deliberate for East Africa, is already within the sights. Tomorrow, we could also be advised that the CAN should be performed each 4 years in order to not hassle the Europeans.
This choice by CAF is rather more than a easy change of dates. It questions the very id of African soccer and its means to withstand exterior pressures. Between custom and globalization, between continental satisfaction and financial realities, African soccer is at a crossroads.