CAF Scheduling Clash Sparks Club vs. Country Tensions Across Africa
A looming scheduling conflict orchestrated by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is triggering friction between national teams and top clubs across the continent, with the potential to escalate into a widespread standoff over player availability.
At the heart of the controversy is CAF’s decision to schedule the first leg of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches for the weekend of May 16–18—the exact same dates reserved for the opening group stage fixtures of both the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. This overlap, unintended or not, is already sowing discord between national football federations and club sides who are both vying for the services of their key players.
One of the most high-profile flashpoints is the brewing standoff between DR Congo’s TP Mazembe and the Tanzanian national team. The Lubumbashi-based club is set to face Sudan’s Al Hilal in a crucial CAF Champions League encounter that weekend, and coach Patrice Carteron is determined to field his strongest squad.
However, Tanzania will also be in action that same weekend, hosting Zimbabwe in the first leg of their 2015 AFCON qualifier. The East African side wants to count on its top forwards—Mbwana Samatta and Thomas Ulimwengu—both of whom play pivotal roles for TP Mazembe. But the Congolese club is reportedly unwilling to release the duo, arguing that the players’ contributions are essential for their continental campaign.
Tensions between the Tanzanian Football Federation and TP Mazembe are already high, and the situation threatens to spill over, with both sides insisting on their right to prioritize their respective competitions.
And Tanzania is far from alone. Other countries caught in this crossfire include Mauritania, Congo, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Kenya—all of which are also preparing for AFCON qualifiers at the same time their key players are expected to turn out for club sides in continental tournaments.
The second leg of the AFCON qualifiers, scheduled just two weeks later, coincides with the second group-stage matchday of the Champions League and Confederation Cup—further deepening the scheduling quagmire. If unresolved, the situation could see players forced to choose between their national and club commitments, potentially leading to weakened squads on both fronts and heightening the risk of injuries or political fallout.
CAF’s decision has drawn criticism from multiple quarters, with observers arguing that the governing body should have foreseen and prevented such a clash. While the organization has yet to release an official response or propose a solution, pressure is mounting for CAF to either reschedule the affected fixtures or enforce a clear protocol to balance club and country duties.
As it stands, African football’s unity is being tested—not by rivalry on the pitch, but by the administrative choices off it. Whether CAF will act to resolve the standoff or leave it to individual federations and clubs to navigate remains to be seen. What’s certain, however, is that the battle lines are drawn, and the consequences could ripple well beyond May.
