The rescheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has raised concerns for Premier League clubs, as it now clashes with their busiest month. While AFCON is supposed to take place in the summer, adverse weather conditions have forced two of the last three tournaments to be moved to winter. This creates a problem for European clubs, as they struggle to release players for AFCON while still competing in domestic and continental competitions.
Liverpool, in particular, has felt the impact of AFCON in recent years. The absences of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Naby Keita have disrupted their squad. The next AFCON, set to be held in Morocco, has been officially rescheduled for December 2025 to January 2026. This means it will coincide with one of the Premier League’s busiest periods, including festive fixtures. Clubs now face the prospect of losing key players during crucial matches.
Although it remains uncertain whether Liverpool will be affected in 2025/26, as Salah is currently the only eligible player in the squad and his contract is set to expire next summer, this issue will persist. The Press Association has reported that clubs may block players from participating in either the 2025 AFCON or the 2026 World Cup due to FIFA rules.
According to FIFA regulations, clubs are not obligated to release a player for more than one major tournament in a year. Since the World Cup takes place during the off-season, clubs could easily reject call-ups by African nations for AFCON. This messy situation may cause clubs to reconsider signing African players, considering the regular impact on their availability.
Liverpool is already being linked with a move for West Ham’s Ghanaian forward Mohammed Kudus this summer. Additionally, the club is expected to enter contract extension talks with Salah. These potential dealings highlight the challenges Premier League clubs face when signing African players and the need to carefully consider their availability during AFCON.