CHAN, AFCON, BAL, Club World Cup: the big events of 2025

Handball kicks off the year

The global sporting year begins with the 2025 Handball World Cup. It runs from 14 January to 2 February in Denmark, Croatia and Norway. Five African nations will take part in this major event: Egypt, Algeria, Cape Verde, Tunisia and Guinea. Note that Algeria and Tunisia are in the same group, Group E.

On 27 January in Rabat, Morocco, the draw for AFCON 2025, which takes place at the end of the year, will be held. From the very start of the year, fans can begin looking ahead to the big matches in store.

From 1 to 28 February 2025, the African Nations Championship (CHAN) will keep sports fans, and football lovers in particular, on the edge of their seats. The competition, open to home-based players, will be staged in East Africa under a three-way hosting arrangement (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania). We will find out who succeeds Senegal, the reigning champions.

The BAL and the Women's AfroBasket

The 2025 edition of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) starts on 5 April and ends in June. For this 5th edition, the Kalahari Conference, which opens the 2025 BAL, takes place from 5 to 13 April in Rabat (Morocco). Next up is the Sahara Conference from 26 April to 4 May in Dakar (Senegal). Kigali Arena (Rwanda) will host the Nile Conference from 17 to 25 May. Finally, the finals phase (Final 8) will be held in South Africa from 6 to 14 June 2025.

A little later, from 25 July to 3 August 2025, the Women's AfroBasket will be another eagerly awaited date for basketball fans. Ivory Coast will be the host nation.

The Club World Cup, the new kid on the block

Football fans get a new competition this year in the form of the revamped Club World Cup. Criticised since FIFA announced its creation and its 32-club format, this first edition will be a real-life test, not only for players but also for fans who complain there is already too much football to watch. Whatever the case, it will be held from 14 June to 13 July 2025 in the United States, with four African clubs involved: Al Ahly, Espérance de Tunis, Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad Casablanca.

The Women's AFCON, the World Athletics Championships, 2026 World Cup qualifying…

Football will be the common thread running through 2025. The Women's AFCON takes place in Morocco from 5 to 26 July. South Africa, the holders, will defend their title against 11 other nations determined to take it from them. In October, the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup will finally reach its conclusion. With the tournament expanded to 48 teams, there will be 9 African sides qualifying directly (instead of 5), with a 10th who could join the party via the play-offs.

Before that, though, the World Athletics Championships will be held in Japan in September (13 to 21). It is a chance to see Letsile Tebogo, the Olympic 200m champion, in action.

Ballon d'Or and CAF Awards

On the individual honours front, the Ballon d'Or will once again be a talking point. Will an African be crowned winner 30 years after George Weah, the only African to have won the prestigious award? Mohamed Salah is currently the favourite after a superb season. The Egyptian could also be named African Player of the Year again at the CAF Awards.

AFCON 2025 to close out the year

To round off the sporting year in 2025, the football world will turn its attention to Morocco. The Kingdom will host the next AFCON, which runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. With Morocco as hosts, Senegal the 2021 champions, Ivory Coast the holders, and Algeria and Egypt out for revenge… all the ingredients are there for a great party.

2025 will therefore be a year packed with competitions. So get yourself a good TV, watch every programme and… Happy New Year!

Read also: SNA Retro: Lookman, Guirassy, Williams … The players who made their mark in 2024

It's the year of AFCON 💥

Happy New Year, everyone. 🥳 pic.twitter.com/FSI0vdBvyr

— CAF - FR (@caf_online_FR) December 31, 2024