Rain delay: Africa Cup of Nations pushed back to 2024

The next Africa Cup of Nations will take place in early 2024 rather than next summer amid fears of a washout during host nation Ivory Coast's rainy season.

The Confederation of African Football's executive committee has decided to switch the tournament, which was due to be played in June and July 2023, to the January and February of the following year.

It will be the second successive finals to take place in January and February following this year's event in Cameroon, which was rescheduled for similar reasons.

Speaking at a press conference in Rabat, Morocco, which is currently hosting the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, CAF president Patrice Motsepe said: "The TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations AFCON Cote d'Ivoire will now be held in January-February of 2024."

He added: "We don't want to run the risk of having a competition that's going to be washed out. It's not good for African football, for our image and we have to work on that basis."

In 2017, CAF announced its decision to move the finals to a summer slot to appease European clubs reluctant to release African players during their domestic seasons.

Asked if future tournaments could be affected in similar fashion, Motsepe said the situation was under review, but admitted scheduling was difficult.

He said: "You must understand that generally it is not the ideal time, but the European clubs are not keen to release some of their best players.

"As it is now, we really have not choice, it's the only time we have in terms of developing and growing African football."