The Confederation of African Football (CAF) finds itself in open conflict with the European Club Association (ECA) as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations approaches.
Top European clubs fear losing key players for several weeks during a critical period in their domestic seasons, reigniting a dispute that resurfaces every two years.
Liverpool, Manchester City, Napoli, and Bayern Munich are among the clubs whose squads face disruption just before the winter break.
Many players returning from AFCON in December and January come back with injuries, forcing clubs to cope with weakened lineups and unplanned absences.
The dispute centers on the competition’s timing. CAF schedules AFCON during the European mid-season, a period coaches describe as vital for securing league positions ahead of the winter break.
European clubs argue the timing compromises team performance, increases injury risk, and disrupts squad rotation. Officials have repeatedly demanded stronger financial compensation and comprehensive insurance to cover players’ absence and rehabilitation costs, but CAF’s offers remain minimal.
FIFA mandates that clubs release selected international players, yet compliance is often reluctant. Some clubs seek loopholes, delaying their players’ departures to mitigate disruption.
Despite the recurrent nature of the conflict, CAF has not adjusted the calendar, and proposals for higher compensation or shifting the tournament to June–July remain unimplemented.
The result is a cycle of tension between African football’s governing body and European clubs, leaving players caught in the middle.
Coaches and club officials continue to voice frustration, while CAF maintains its stance, prioritising the continent’s flagship competition over European schedules.
With AFCON 2025 set to kick off in December, the same issues threaten to resurface.
The clash highlights the need for long-term solutions that protect players’ welfare, balance club and national interests, and prevent repeated disruption in top European leagues.
African stars and their clubs deserve a more sustainable approach that recognises the stakes on both sides of the conflict.
