The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) confirmed that players will now be released no later than December 15, easing concerns across European leagues.
The verdict means that Super Eagles stalwarts Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and others who are set to compete in Morocco will be available for club duty later in the Christmas season.
Prior to Wednesday’s announcement, teams faced the possibility of losing their African players as early as December 8, a scenario that drew criticism from some European clubs.
In a statement seen by our correspondent, FIFA stated that the change was made after “fruitful consultations” with key stakeholders and that CAF had shown “a spirit of solidarity” by agreeing to put the publication date back by a week.
The global organization also asked national associations and clubs to engage in “good faith bilateral discussions” to avoid future conflicts over player availability.
The adjustment provides major relief to Premier League and European clubs with large African contingents. Most teams dreaded being without players for up to eight league games during the season’s busiest phase.
Clubs like Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United will continue to lose prominent African players, albeit for a shorter duration.
Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool, and City will be without Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri. United will lose Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds will be remain unaffected.
Several of these teams will also be impacted by Nigeria’s call-ups, with Fulham losing Iwobi, Bassey, and in-form winger Chukwueze, while Brentford will be without Frank Onyeka.
Wolverhampton Wanderers will be without striker Tolu Arokodare, while Atalanta will release Ademola Lookman, one of their most decisive attackers who is just hitting form.
Several players, including Galatasaray’s Osimhen, Sevilla’s Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams, and Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika, will report for Nigeria’s AFCON campaign.
The revised date allows for more time to complete important club fixtures before leaving for the continental championship, which runs from December 21 to January 18. Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, and Senegal are expected to be among the heavyweights.
