FIFA has confirmed that clubs will now release players for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on December 15, giving Nigerian and other African internationals an additional week with their teams.
With the new timeline, Super Eagles players including Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey will be available for more club games during the busy December period.
Previously, clubs expected to lose their African players by December 8, a possibility that had sparked frustration among several European sides.
According to a statement obtained by the newspaper, FIFA explained that the decision was made after “fruitful consultations” with major stakeholders, adding that CAF demonstrated “a spirit of solidarity” by agreeing to shift the release date. The organisation also encouraged national teams and clubs to engage in “good faith bilateral discussions” to manage any disagreements over player availability.
The adjustment is a major relief for Premier League and other European clubs with several African players, many of whom feared being without key squad members for as many as eight matches during the season’s most demanding stretch.
Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United will still have to cope without important African talents, but for a reduced period. Liverpool will release Mohamed Salah, while City must do without Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri. United will part with Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds, however, will not be impacted.
Nigeria’s call-ups will also affect a number of clubs: Fulham will lose Iwobi, Bassey and the in-form Chukwueze, Brentford will be without Frank Onyeka, Wolves will miss striker Tolu Arokodare, and Atalanta must release Lookman, who is currently in excellent form.
Additional departures include Osimhen of Galatasaray, Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams of Sevilla, and Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika, all of whom will join Nigeria’s AFCON squad.
The revised release date allows players to complete a few more crucial club fixtures before joining their national teams for the tournament, scheduled for December 21 to January 18.
Top contenders such as Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Senegal are expected to push for the title in Morocco. With the adjusted date, coaches benefit from slightly more stability as they prepare for a competition featuring 24 nations in one of international football’s most competitive environments.