Ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has officially announced that clubs must release players for the tournament no later than Monday, 15 December.
The confirmation was shared by Italian journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who posted the update on his official X account.
“FIFA confirms that clubs are required to release players for AFCON by Monday, 15 December, with FIFA prepared to mediate any disputes,” Romano tweeted.
According to him, the compulsory release date has been moved up by seven days in an effort to minimize clashes with European competitions.
FIFA also urged clubs and national teams to cooperate and resolve potential disagreements, noting that the body will intervene if necessary.
Meanwhile, as Nigeria prepares for the 35th AFCON in Morocco, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle on Tuesday unveiled a provisional list featuring 55 players.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
However, debate had persisted regarding the exact timeline for releasing players from their clubs prior to FIFA’s latest clarification.
