DR Congo adjusts AFCON 2025 preparations after FIFA release ruling

DR Congo’s build-up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco now takes a new direction after FIFA’s release-date ruling disrupted the team’s schedule.

Head coach Sébastien Desabre named his squad on time, and his staff mapped out a two-stage training camp that starts in Spain and continues in Morocco.

They planned to open the camp with a friendly against Zambia on 13 December 2025. FIFA, however, set 15 December as the official release date for players based in Europe.

This decision blocks many key squad members from joining early and places the Zambia fixture in serious doubt.

Desabre and his staff now prepare for several early sessions without important Europe-based players.

They continue to evaluate possible solutions, but they refuse to compromise the team’s preparation rhythm.

The team still intends to face Ivory Coast in a high-profile friendly before the start of the tournament.

Desabre views that match as an essential test because it offers strong opposition and sets the tone for the squad’s final phase of preparation.

DR Congo’s logistical arrangements remain intact, and the delegation plans to fly to Morocco on 18 December to settle at the designated base camp. The technical team aims to create stability around the squad once they arrive, despite the disrupted opening days of the camp.

The Leopards sit in Group D with Senegal, Benin and Botswana. Desabre wants his players to build momentum quickly and approach the competition with sharpness and clarity. He believes the team must adjust fast, ignore the distractions, and embrace the challenge with unity.

The scheduling setback complicates DR Congo’s plans, but the staff maintains focus as the countdown to AFCON 2025 intensifies.