Manchester United and Liverpool Receive Boost as FIFA Makes Decision on AFCON
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Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and Liverpool, have been handed a significant advantage after FIFA agreed to delay the release of players for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Teams will now be able to retain their African stars until December 15, a full week later than the original deadline. This decision provides a major boost for clubs facing a packed festive fixture list, particularly those whose squads will be heavily impacted by the tournament in Morocco.
The ruling has immediate implications for several key matches. Sunderland, for instance, will now have seven first-team players available for the highly anticipated Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle on December 14—the first top-flight meeting between the rivals in nine years.
Manchester United could also see a benefit, as the new deadline may allow Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo, and Noussair Mazraoui to feature in their home game against Bournemouth on December 15. However, their availability remains uncertain as the match falls on the exact day of the new release date.
Elsewhere, Liverpool can now count on Mohamed Salah for their match against Brighton on December 13, while Manchester City's trip to Crystal Palace on December 14 will see them have Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush.
Which EPL Club Will Be Most Affected?
The Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off on December 21, could see as many as 45 Premier League players depart for international duty. Only four clubs—Arsenal, Chelsea, Leeds, and Newcastle—are unaffected by call-ups.
Sunderland faces the most significant disruption, with Chemesdine Talbi, Simon Adingra, Bertrand Traore, Arthur Masuaku, Reinildo, Noah Sadiki, and Habib Diarra all expected to be unavailable. Meanwhile, winless Wolves, currently bottom of the table, could lose up to five players.
Manchester United were reportedly among the clubs actively lobbying FIFA for this extension. Depending on how far their nations progress, players could miss up to eight club matches, including an FA Cup third-round tie, with the AFCON final scheduled for January 18.
There is a precedent for players joining their national squads late. During the 2023 tournament, Andre Onana delayed his departure to play for Manchester United against Tottenham, subsequently missing Cameroon's opening match.
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