AFCON 2025: FIFA Confirms December 15 Start Date for Mandatory Release of Players

FIFA has confirmed that clubs will be required to release players for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 starting from 15 December 2025.

The decision, approved by the Bureau of the FIFA Council, follows what the world governing body described as “fruitful consultations” with key stakeholders and strong cooperation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The mandatory release date has been shortened by seven days, aligning with precedents set during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. AFCON 2025, scheduled to run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, will be the first edition of the tournament held during the Christmas and New Year festive period.

FIFA noted that the agreement was reached thanks to CAF’s spirit of solidarity, which helped deliver a balanced solution for clubs, national teams, and competition organisers navigating an increasingly congested global football calendar.

In addition to the mandatory release date, FIFA encouraged Member Associations participating in AFCON, as well as clubs whose players may still be involved in domestic or continental competitions during the window, to engage in bilateral discussions.

These talks, FIFA said, should help both sides find workable compromises that minimise disruption to ongoing competitions.

Where disagreements remain unresolved, FIFA confirmed it will intervene to mediate, with each case assessed individually. Decisions will consider the scheduling and stage of ongoing competitions, the current and historical involvement of the concerned players, and other relevant sporting factors.

The development is expected to ease longstanding tensions between European clubs and African national teams, particularly where league fixtures clash with the AFCON calendar.

As preparations intensify for Morocco 2025, the announcement of the December 15 release date provides crucial clarity for national team coaches finalising plans for Africa’s biggest football showpiece.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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