FIFA confirms December 15 player release date for AFCON 2025, cuts preparation time for national teams

FIFA has officially announced that clubs will be required to release players for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco beginning 15 December 2025, following what the governing body described as “fruitful consultations” with key stakeholders and a cooperative approach from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The adjusted timeline shortens the mandatory release period by seven days, mirroring the arrangements used for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. AFCON 2025, which runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, will be the first edition staged during the Christmas and New Year period—creating a unique scheduling challenge for clubs, national teams, and competition organisers.

FIFA said the agreement was made possible due to “the spirit of solidarity demonstrated by CAF” amid a congested global football calendar, emphasising that the decision aims to strike a balance between domestic leagues, continental competitions, and national team preparations.

As part of the framework, FIFA encouraged national associations and clubs whose players remain active in continental matches during the release window to enter into bilateral discussions to find workable scheduling compromises. Should disputes persist, FIFA will step in as mediator, assessing each case individually based on: the timing of fixture, the competition stage, the historical and expected involvement of the player(s), and any other relevant sporting considerations.

The decision is expected to ease long-standing tensions between European clubs and African national teams, particularly since several domestic and UEFA competitions—including the Champions League, which runs until 10 December 2025 —overlap with AFCON preparations.

However, the shortened release window also means national teams will have less than a week to fully assemble their squads before matchday one, adding further logistical pressure on coaches and organisers.

With AFCON Morocco 2025 fast approaching, the clarity provided by FIFA’s ruling allows national team managers to finalise their plans as clubs brace for another mid-season player exodus.

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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