European football giants have secured a major victory regarding the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Under a new timeline, star players like Mohamed Salah, Bryan Mbeumo, and Achraf Hakimi can remain with their clubs until December 15.
This decision delays their departure for international duty by a crucial week. It offers significant relief to top teams like Liverpool, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain. Previously, these clubs faced losing key personnel for up to five weeks.
The tournament is scheduled to run in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Easing the Club-vs-Country Conflict
Originally, regulations required players to report to national training camps by December 8. This schedule would have deprived English Premier League clubs of vital squad members for seven or eight matches during the busy festive period.
However, organizers consulted with stakeholders to find a middle ground. Consequently, they pushed the mandatory release date back. To further mitigate the impact, officials are encouraging clubs to engage in bilateral discussions. This allows teams to find specific solutions for individual players.
Premier League Impact
The ruling significantly alters the landscape for the English Premier League’s winter schedule.
- Liverpool: The Reds will retain Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah for an additional week of critical fixtures.
- Manchester United: The club receives a major boost. They will keep Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo, Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo, and Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui until mid-December.
- Manchester City: The champions will delay the release of Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush and Algerian defender Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Despite this reprieve, the tournament still presents challenges. High-flying Sunderland faces the potential loss of up to seven players. Similarly, relegation-battling Wolverhampton Wanderers could be without five squad members.
Conversely, title contenders such as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds United remain largely unaffected by the call-ups.
The Situation Across Europe
On the continent, French champions Paris Saint-Germain will eventually bid farewell to Achraf Hakimi. He is the reigning African Player of the Year. However, other European heavyweights like Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, and Juventus will not see major squad disruptions.
In Germany, Bayern Munich will release Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson, currently on loan from Chelsea. The impact on the Bundesliga giants will be minimal. The league observes a winter break from December 22 to January 8, which overlaps with the tournament’s group stages.
As the countdown to kickoff continues, host nation Morocco, alongside Egypt, Algeria, and Senegal, are widely tipped as the favorites to lift the trophy.
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