FIFA has extended the release date for African players participating in the Africa Cup of Nations, allowing them to stay with their clubs until December 15. This change follows consultations with stakeholders, providing relief to European clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United, who would otherwise lose key players for an extended period.
The tournament, hosted in Morocco from December 21 to January 18, will see stars such as Mohamed Salah, Bryan Mbeumo, and Achraf Hakimi join their national teams later than initially planned. The decision aims to reduce the impact on club schedules, particularly for English Premier League teams during a busy season.