AFCON 2025: Mali coach Tom Saintfiet condemns FIFA’s delay in player release

Tom Saintfiet lashes out at FIFA after the governing body moves the release date for African internationals to 15 December, a decision he says destroys Mali’s plans for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

FIFA announced the change on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, and the reaction across the continent intensified immediately.

Saintfiet, who leads Mali’s national team, rejects the ruling and argues that it undermines preparations not only for the Eagles but for every nation heading to AFCON.

The Belgian coach calls the move “a catastrophic decision” and says European football circles continue to disregard the importance of African competitions.

He vents his anger during comments shared with AFP, stressing that he feels deeply disappointed and disrespected by the ruling.

Saintfiet explains that Mali can no longer execute its planned training schedule. The team must cancel friendly matches arranged against Botswana and Tanzania because he will not have access to his squad.

He says the delay leaves him without players at a crucial moment in the build-up to AFCON.

The coach emphasises the significance of tactical preparation and on-field automatisms, key elements that national teams rely on before entering a major tournament.

The compressed schedule now prevents Mali from developing these essential structures, and Saintfiet warns that the consequences could severely damage their performance in Morocco.

He believes a one-week adjustment may appear minor from the outside but argues that it ruins months of planning.

Saintfiet says the decision sends a harmful message about how African football is viewed globally and insists his team—and the tournament—deserve far better.

With AFCON 2025 edging closer, Mali now waits to see how this forced reshaping of their plans will affect their ambitions.