AFCON 2025: Premier League Clubs Set for Player Exodus as Dates Clash with Festive Schedule
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set to take place in Morocco, and the dates have finally been announced. The tournament will begin on December 21, 2025, and conclude on January 18, 2026. This new schedule has significant implications for Premier League clubs, as it clashes with the festive period and could lead to a player exodus.
AFCON 2025: A clash with the Premier League’s festive schedule
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the dates, which were moved from the original summer schedule to avoid clashes with FIFA’s inaugural 32-team Club World Cup. However, this new schedule puts AFCON in direct conflict with FIFA rules, which state that clubs only have to release their players for one “A” representative team final competition per year.
This means that Premier League clubs can block players from going to AFCON, which could lead to a significant loss of talent for the tournament. CAF president Dr. Patrice Motsepe has stated that planning the dates was “complex” but believed the chosen schedule was in the best interests of Africa’s stars.
“The announcement of the dates took much longer than expected as there were complex and at times challenging discussions with various interested parties, in the light of the extensive international and domestic match calendars.” - Dr. Patrice Motsepe
The impact on Premier League clubs will be significant, with many of their top players set to participate in AFCON. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, for example, is one of the many Premier League stars who will be affected by the new schedule.
Mohamed Salah: One of the many Premier League stars affected by the new AFCON schedule
The news has sparked debate among football fans, with some arguing that the schedule change is unfair to Premier League clubs, while others believe it is necessary to accommodate the growing importance of AFCON.
“The amount of football we ask the top players to play is beyond a joke,” said former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. “The quality drops, and more importantly, the injuries rise.”
As the football world continues to grapple with the implications of the new AFCON schedule, one thing is certain: the 2025 tournament is set to be one of the most highly anticipated and potentially dramatic in recent memory.
AFCON 2025: A tournament like no other
