Afcon 2023 pushed back six months to Jan-Feb 2024 because of weather concerns

The Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to be held in June and July next year in Ivory Coast has been pushed back to January-February 2024 in a bid to avoid the rainy season, it was announced Sunday.

Patrice Motsepe, head of the African football confederation (CAF) said the body didn't want to take the risk of staging the tournament "under a deluge".

Speaking at a CAF executive committee meeting in Morocco, playing host to the women's Cup of Nations, Motsepe said: "This is one of the issues we discussed during our congress meeting here in Morocco and the official dates will be communicated later.

"It is after deliberations we came into the decision, we have partners and even though we make decisions, it is out of respect that we take the advice we are getting that we cannot take a risk (to host the tournament) and so that is why we have made the necessary announcement today (Sunday).

"It is not good for African football to play a tournament that can be washed out, it is not good for Africa and the continent at large and so we have to postpone it.

"I am happy and impressed with the infrastructure put in place by Ivory Coast in readiness for the tournament and I am sure they will host a very good tournament."