FIFA announces Dec 15 players release date for AFCON

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Nigerian and African internationals preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will remain with their clubs for an extra week after FIFA confirmed that players will now be released no later than December 15, easing concerns across European leagues, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The ruling means Super Eagles stars such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and others expected at the tournament in Morocco will be available for club duties deeper into the festive fixture schedule.

Before Wednesday’s announcement, teams faced the prospect of losing their African players as early as December 8, a scenario that had drawn complaints from several European sides.

In its statement obtained by our correspondent, FIFA said the adjustment followed “fruitful consultations” with key stakeholders, noting that CAF showed “a spirit of solidarity” in agreeing to push the release date back by a week.

The global body also urged national associations and clubs to hold “good faith bilateral discussions” to ease potential friction over player availability.

The change represents a significant relief for Premier League and European clubs with large African contingents. Most teams had feared being without their players for up to eight league matches during the busiest period of the season.

Clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United will still lose influential African players, but for a shorter period.

Mohamed Salah will depart Liverpool, while City will be without Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri. United will lose Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui. Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds, however, will remain unaffected.

Several of these clubs will also feel the impact of Nigeria’s call-ups, with Fulham set to lose Iwobi, Bassey and in-form winger Chukwueze, while Brentford will be without Frank Onyeka.

Wolverhampton Wanderers face the absence of striker Tolu Arokodare, and Atalanta will release Ademola Lookman, one of their most decisive attackers who is just hitting top form.

Further withdrawals include Galatasaray forward Osimhen, Sevilla pair Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams, and Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika, all of whom will report for Nigeria’s AFCON campaign.

The revised date provides additional time to complete crucial club fixtures before departing for the continental championship, which runs from December 21 to January 18.

Heavyweights, including Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Senegal, are expected to be among the favourites in Morocco. The new release date allows coaches slightly more continuity as they prepare for a tournament that will bring together 24 nations in one of world football’s most tightly contested international competitions.

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