Extra Week for African Stars at Clubs Eases European League Woes.

FIFA Announces December 15 Player Release Date for AFCON 2025

FIFA has confirmed that African internationals preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco will remain with their clubs until no later than December 15—a one-week extension from the initial December 8 deadline—bringing relief to European leagues amid the festive fixture pile-up, Sportblits.com reports.

The decision, announced Wednesday, allows Super Eagles standouts like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey to feature deeper into their clubs’ schedules before linking up for the tournament, which runs from December 21 to January 18.

“This adjustment followed fruitful consultations with key stakeholders, noting that CAF showed a spirit of solidarity in agreeing to push the release date back by a week,” FIFA stated.

The global governing body also called for national associations and clubs to engage in “good faith bilateral discussions” to resolve any lingering disputes over player availability.

AFCON

Relief for Premier League Powerhouses

Previously, clubs braced for up to eight league matches without their African contingents during the season’s busiest stretch. Now, the shorter absence—potentially three to six games—offers crucial continuity.

  • Liverpool will retain Mohamed Salah longer before his Egypt departure.
  • Manchester City benefits from extended service from Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri.
  • Manchester United gets extra time with Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui.

Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds United dodge major impacts entirely.

Nigeria’s call-ups hit hard too:
Fulham loses Iwobi, Bassey, and the in-form Chukwueze;
Brentford without midfielder Frank Onyeka;
Wolverhampton Wanderers missing striker Tolu Arokodare;
Atalanta parting with talismanic attacker Lookman;
Plus Galatasaray’s Osimhen, Sevilla duo Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams, and Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika.

Tournament Prep Tightens

The shift mirrors FIFA’s approach for the 2022 World Cup, prioritizing club calendars while compressing build-ups to six days pre-kickoff. Favorites like Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, and Senegal now face a race against time for cohesion, but the compromise underscores football’s collaborative spirit.

As 24 nations converge in Morocco for one of the world’s most electric tournaments, this tweak ensures stars like Osimhen can shine club-side a bit longer—before the African showdown steals the spotlight.