Africa-Press – Eritrea. In what is set to pose fresh logistical challenges for African national teams, FIFA has confirmed that clubs will only be required to release players for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from December 15, a full week later than the usual international release window.
The announcement, made on Wednesday, comes ahead of the tournament scheduled to run from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 in Morocco.
The late release means participating teams will have less than seven days to assemble their full squads, assess player fitness, and finalise tactical preparations before Africa’s biggest international football competition kicks off.
FIFA explained that the decision mirrors the approach used for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where clubs also retained players until shortly before the start of the tournament.
According to the governing body, the shortened release period was agreed after consultations with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and other football stakeholders, aimed at reducing “the impact on various parties”.
However, FIFA did not go into detail on what these impacts entailed.
The revised timeline also aligns closely with the 2025 UEFA Champions League window, which runs until December 10, allowing European clubs competing in the continental competition more flexibility before releasing their African stars.
To manage the tight schedule and possible fixture clashes, FIFA has encouraged national federations and clubs involved in continental tournaments during the release period to engage in bilateral negotiations and find “appropriate individual solutions” where necessary.
Should disagreements arise, the world football body says it will step in to mediate disputes.
With many African teams heavily dependent on Europe-based players—some of whom play crucial roles for their clubs—the condensed preparation period is expected to test coaches’ adaptability and stretch logistics teams to their limits.
The late release could also influence squad selections, training intensity, and overall tournament readiness.
As the countdown to Morocco 2025 continues, coaches and federations will now have to rethink their preparation strategies, while fans await how teams will navigate yet another unusual AFCON build-up.
