FIFA pushed back the deadline for European clubs to release players for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations until December 15, up from the original December 7 date. This gives teams like Liverpool and Manchester United extra time with key players such as Mohamed Salah, Egypt's Mohamed Elneny, Senegal's Ismaila Sarr, and Nigeria's Victor Osimhen during the busy festive period. African national teams feel shortchanged, as they lose preparation time for scheduled friendlies and point to repeated schedule changes since 2017 that favor European club calendars. The tournament runs from December 21 in Morocco through January 18, 2026, highlighting ongoing tensions between club and international football demands.
