Nigerian and other African internationals heading to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will now stay with their clubs for an extra week, as FIFA confirmed that players must be released no later than December 15, offering relief to European clubs, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The decision means Super Eagles stars like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey will be available for club duties deeper into the congested festive schedule.
Prior to this update, players were expected to join their national teams as early as December 8, a prospect that had drawn complaints from several European clubs.
In a statement obtained by our correspondent, FIFA said the change followed “fruitful consultations” with key stakeholders, highlighting that CAF demonstrated “a spirit of solidarity” in agreeing to postpone the release by a week. The governing body also urged national associations and clubs to maintain “good faith bilateral discussions” to ease any potential conflicts over player availability.
The revision offers significant relief to Premier League and European clubs with sizable African contingents. While some teams will still lose key African players, the period of absence is now shorter.
Liverpool will see Mohamed Salah depart, Manchester City will be without Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Manchester United will release Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds remain largely unaffected.
Several Nigerian internationals will also be affected: Fulham will miss Iwobi, Bassey, and Chukwueze; Brentford will lose Frank Onyeka; Wolverhampton Wanderers will be without striker Tolu Arokodare; and Atalanta will release Ademola Lookman, who is hitting top form. Other withdrawals include Galatasaray’s Osimhen, Sevilla’s Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams, and Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika.
The extra week allows clubs to complete critical fixtures before players depart for the continental championship, which will run from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco.
Top contenders such as Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, and Senegal are expected to challenge for the title, and the revised release date provides slightly more continuity for clubs while coaches prepare their squads for one of Africa’s most competitive international tournaments.
