African football officials and supporters across the continent are expressing anger after FIFA approved a later release date for AFCON bound players, allowing clubs to hold onto their stars until 15 December. With the tournament in Morocco kicking off on 21 December, national teams say the decision throws weeks of planning into disarray.
Why The Decision Has Sparked Anger
Most African teams were preparing to welcome their full squads from next week to begin training camps, tactical sessions and warm up matches. Many federations had already booked friendlies and arranged travel schedules, expecting players to arrive earlier as per previous AFCON cycles.
Now, FIFA’s announcement gives clubs, particularly those in the Premier League, the green light to use their African stars for the 13 to 14 December fixtures before releasing them. This means several national teams will only have seven days to work with their complete squads before the opening matches of the tournament.
French publication L’Equipe reports that the reaction from African football circles has been overwhelmingly negative, calling the decision disrespectful and disruptive. For many supporters, it has reopened long standing frustrations over how global football institutions treat African competitions compared to European ones.
Coaches Feeling The Pressure
The fallout is already being felt at club and national level. Liverpool manager Arne Slot confirmed this week that Mohamed Salah will only join Egypt’s camp on December 15.
Slot explained that the decision is part of a three way communication process involving the player, club and country, but made it clear that FIFA’s ruling ultimately set the date.
This delay could affect Egypt’s preparation as they finalise their AFCON squad and warm up fixtures. Other nations appear equally unsettled, with reports that several coaching teams are urgently revising training plans.
A Growing Debate Ahead Of Morocco 2025
With the tournament starting in less than three weeks, the timing could not be more contentious. The AFCON has recently gained stronger global attention and is expected to attract significant viewership, especially with host nation Morocco seen as one of the favourites.
Yet the latest developments show that African football is still fighting for consistent respect within the global calendar. As one supporter put it online, AFCON should not be treated as an afterthought.
For now, coaches will need to scramble, players will travel late and the continent waits to see how this decision impacts the opening stages of Africa’s biggest football event.
Source: iDiski Times
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