African national teams were plunged into panic this week after FIFA unexpectedly reduced the mandatory player release period for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. With the tournament in Morocco kicking off on 21 December, coaches say the late change has derailed months of planning and forced them into last minute reshuffles.
A Decision That Landed Out of Nowhere
FIFA announced that clubs now only need to release players on 15 December instead of the usual two week period before a continental competition. For AFCON coaches, who had been preparing to welcome their players immediately after this weekend, the shift felt like a rug pulled from beneath them.
Senegal reportedly scrapped their planned training camp in Tunisia. Angola, DR Congo, Mozambique and defending champions Ivory Coast are all scrambling to redesign schedules that were locked in months ago.
For a continent where preparations are often already stretched by travel, logistics and financial constraints, the ruling could not have come at a worse time.
Read more: AFCON 2025: Key details and what to expect
Plans Unravelling Across the Continent
Angola coach Patrice Beaumelle captured the mood bluntly. He revealed that his team had planned to begin their camp on 8 December in Portugal’s Algarve region.
He had been visiting the facilities for more than a month, setting up training schedules, organising friendly matches and fine tuning everything needed for a smooth build up. Now, he says, all of it is at risk.
“We have to be in Morocco on the 18th to play on the 22nd. So we can no longer call it a training camp,” he said. His frustration echoes across the continent.
Gabon coach Thierry Mouyouma also confirmed that their warm up fixtures are collapsing. They had arranged friendlies for 14 and 18 December, but with players only arriving on the 15th, they may now manage just one match against an opponent yet to be confirmed.
A Return to the Qatar World Cup Approach
FIFA defended the decision, saying the shortened release period mirrors the approach taken for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The organisation said the agreement followed consultations with CAF and other stakeholders and was meant to “reduce impact on various parties”.
What those impacts are remains unclear. Many African fans feel the ruling once again prioritises European clubs at the expense of African competitions.
A Blow to African Football’s Standing
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet did not mince his words. He said the decision reflects a lack of respect for African football, arguing that the global football calendar bends too easily toward the interests of European clubs.
Coaches were also irate about the timing. The dates for AFCON 2025 were confirmed more than a year ago, leaving many confused as to why FIFA waited until December to reveal such a seismic change.
A Tournament Now Starting on the Back Foot
With teams rushing to rebook accommodation, reschedule travel, renegotiate friendlies and adjust tactical plans, AFCON 2025 may begin with coaches still stitching together their squads’ readiness.
Yet if history has taught African football anything, it is resilience. The road to Morocco may now be messy, but once the whistle blows on 21 December, all eyes will turn to the pitch. Whether this ruling affects performance remains to be seen, but for now, Africa’s coaches have been handed an unwelcome challenge at the worst possible moment.
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Source: Super Sport
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