The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco have officially announced December 16 as the opening date for team camps ahead of the continental showpiece.
In a statement issued on Monday, the LOC emphasized that any national team arriving before December 16 will be required to cover its own accommodation and logistical expenses until the official camp window begins.
This directive mirrors situations like that of the Cranes of Uganda, who arrived early and had to fund their stay prior to the approved date.
The LOC and CAF reaffirmed that the 2025 AFCON tournament will kick off on December 21, 2025, and will run through January 18, 2026.
All participating nations are expected to complete their final preparations within the officially sanctioned camp period.
CAF and host nation Morocco assured participating teams, fans, and stakeholders of smooth organisation, top-tier facilities, and a seamless experience throughout the tournament.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
