FIFA has handed clubs an unexpected boost by allowing African stars to remain with their teams until December 15 before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations.
The new decision means top players such as Mohamed Salah, Bryan Mbeumo and Achraf Hakimi will stay available for one more crucial week.
The shift comes as European clubs brace for a demanding schedule. Teams like Liverpool, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain feared losing their biggest names for nearly two months.
The AFCON tournament runs from December 21 to January 18, and clubs worried the duty call would stretch even longer.
However, FIFA updated its regulations after what it described as “fruitful consultations led by FIFA with key stakeholders and thanks to the spirit of solidarity demonstrated by CAF.” The decision aims to reduce the strain on clubs during a packed winter calendar.
FIFA also urged all parties to find common ground.
“It was also decided to encourage member associations participating in the 2025 AFCON and clubs releasing players… to engage in good faith bilateral discussions in order to find appropriate individual solutions.”
Before the amendment, the release date had been locked at December 8. Premier League sides risked losing their stars for up to eight matches during one of the season’s busiest stretches. Now, those fears have been eased, at least slightly.
The timing of the competition still brings challenges. Sunderland could lose up to seven players, while Wolverhampton Wanderers might be without five. These absences could reshape the league table as teams navigate a hectic run of fixtures.
Liverpool will lose Egypt captain Salah. Manchester City will be without Omar Marmoush and Algeria’s Rayan Ait-Nouri. Manchester United must do without Cameroon’s Mbeumo, Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo and Morocco’s Noussair Mazraoui.
Meanwhile, Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds keep their squads intact. PSG, however, will lose reigning African Footballer of the Year Hakimi. Across Europe, giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Juventus remain untouched by the tournament.
Bayern Munich’s Nicolas Jackson, on loan from Chelsea, will be away with Senegal but won’t miss many Bundesliga games due to the league’s winter break between December 22 and January 8.
With Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Senegal among the favourites, the tournament promises drama. And now clubs have one extra week to adjust before the action begins.
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