FIFA Pushes Back CAN Player Release to Dec. 15 After ECA Request

Overview

• Players who were due to join national teams on December 8 can now remain with their clubs until December 15, confirmed by FIFA.
• The shift lets affected footballers play one additional Champions League and Ligue 1 match before reporting for the tournament in Morocco.
• Stade Rennais coach Habib Beye called the late change incorrect toward national-team coaches and federations and criticized the lack of respect for the competition.
• Beye said Rennes would have released Mahamadou Nagida, Seko Fofana and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal on the original date and insisted the club applied no pressure on any federation.
• The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations runs from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco, which heightens scheduling strain on travel, hotel bookings and planned warm-up fixtures.