- FIFA allows clubs to keep African stars until December 15 before AFCON duty
- Top players affected include Salah, Mbeumo, and Hakimi
- Extension reduces club losses during busy December league matches
- AFCON 2025 runs from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco
FIFA has announced that clubs can retain AFCON 2025 players for an extra week before they join their national squads for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The decision, made on Wednesday, comes after consultations with CAF and other key stakeholders.
“Fruitful consultations led by FIFA with key stakeholders, and thanks to the spirit of solidarity demonstrated by CAF, have reduced the impact on clubs and national teams,” FIFA said in a statement.
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Originally, players were required to report by December 8, meaning some clubs could lose key players for up to seven or eight league matches. The new extension until December 15 allows teams to better manage the busy December schedule.
Top stars affected include Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi. Premier League clubs such as Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers could lose up to seven and five players respectively without this extension.
While some teams, including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds, will not be affected, others like Manchester City and PSG will still see the absence of international players. Bayern Munich’s Nicolas Jackson, on loan from Chelsea, will play in AFCON but miss few Bundesliga matches due to the winter break.
FIFA also encouraged clubs and national associations to engage in good faith discussions to manage player release and find tailored solutions for individual cases. The tournament runs from December 21 to January 18 and features 24 nations competing for the continental crown.
