Premier League’s Players to Stay Longer at The Clubs Before 2025 AFCON

Premier League: The deadline for AFCON players to join their country has been pushed back to December 15 after some European clubs release a complaint because many of them are facing busy fixtures in December.

Teams are originally needed to release the players that will participate in the Africa Cup of Nation by Monday, 8 December, but the expectation from the Premier League clubs is that only few players that will participate in the AFCON need to report to their nation that early.

The decision after the talks among the key stakeholders including CAF, African Football Governing Body, and European Football Clubs have led to a decision to give more room of tolerance in the rule in recent years. Since the 2021 AFCON, CAF agreed that Premier League players be included in the first team until six days before the start of the tournament. For more Premier League related news and information, find it on Price In UK

Last year, Andre Onana who played for Manchester United on January 14 immediately flew to Ivory Coast to join his national team for the AFCON. Cameroon was scheduled to play on the opening day of the 2023 AFCON (Held in 2024). Onana was held by travel issues and couldn’t participate in Cameroon’s opening game.

FIFA announced it on Wednesday that the delay was agreed with followed “fruitful consultations led by FIFA with key stakeholders and, thanks to the spirit of solidarity demonstrated by CAF to reduce the impact on various parties”.

FIFA have made a similar decision for the 2022 World Cup that was held in the winter time where most European leagues are still active.

Arne Slot had answered this when asked about when will Mohammad Salah leave to join his national team for the tournament.

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This will allow clubs that participate in the European Competitions to retain their AFCON-bound players for the FIxtures on December 9 and 10 for Champions League, and December 11 for Europa and Conference League.

Clubs will also be able to hold their players for one more domestic league game. It is a boost for a team like Sunderland. They are likely to lose seven first team players who are joining the AFCON making them the most affected club by tournament departures. The Black Cat will have the first Tyne-Wear derby in the Premier League since 2016 in the Gameweek 16.

Wolves will lose five players that head to the tournament with Nottingham Forest losing four. Chelsea, Arsenal, and Leeds United are the only Premier League clubs without any players heading to AFCON. 

Besides Salah, other Premier League players that will join the Africa Cup of Nations include the Man United trio of Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbuemo. Tottenham will lose Pape Matar Sarr and Everton will let Iliman Ndiaye to leave as well.

The 2025 AFCON will be held in Morocco, with the opening match on December 21 when Morocco as the host nation will face Comoros. The tournament’s final will take place on January 18, which means clubs will be without their AFCON-bound players until that date.

Time for Premier League’s Academy Players to Shine

With so many players joining the 2025 AFCON, clubs with many players reporting to their national team could promote their academy players to be in the first team during AFCON.

Team like Manchester United who lose two of their important players on Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbuemo will certainly promote their academy players, and if possible, give them some game time here and there.