World football’s governing body, FIFA, has officially announced that players called up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be permitted to remain with their clubs until December 15, just seven days before the competition kicks off.
This decision provides a significant boost to clubs around the world particularly in Europe who feared losing key stars too early during one of the busiest periods of the football calendar.
The 35th edition of AFCON, set to begin on December 21 in Morocco, will host 24 teams battling for Africa’s most prestigious football crown. FIFA’s revised release window means national team coaches will now have a much shorter preparation period, leaving them with limited time to assemble full squads, conduct tactical sessions, and build team chemistry.
Despite this challenge, the governing body emphasized that the adjustment is intended to balance club demands with national team necessities, especially during a month filled with crucial league fixtures.
AFCON has traditionally fallen outside the standard international calendar, often causing friction between clubs and African federations over player availability.
In previous tournaments, clubs regularly voiced their frustration at losing players weeks before kickoff—at a time when domestic leagues, especially across Europe, enter decisive stages. FIFA’s updated rule seeks to ease those long-standing tensions by keeping players with their employers for as long as possible.
National teams will now be forced to adapt their training schedules, planning shorter camps and accelerated tactical preparations ahead of the tournament. Meanwhile, clubs can maintain stronger squads during the hectic December period, benefiting from the availability of their African stars for additional matches.
An estimated 45 Premier League footballers are expected to depart for AFCON 2025, meaning the competition will still have a noticeable impact on club squads once the release period begins. Nonetheless, FIFA’s new arrangement offers clubs a valuable extra week of service from their players before the continent’s showpiece event begins in Morocco.
