With just three days separating the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the scheduling of both tournaments is once again raising concerns over player participation and workload.
The tight turnaround will force national teams, particularly those with strong contingents in both competitions, to make difficult selection decisions.
Overlapping tournaments put players under pressure
The 2021 edition of the Arab Cup, held in Qatar and backed by FIFA, concluded on December 18, just 22 days before the AFCON kicked off in Cameroon.
That overlap saw Algeria, under Madjid Bougherra and Djamel Belmadi, field 11 players in both tournaments—a decision widely criticised for its impact on performance levels at AFCON.
The scheduling for 2025 is even more intense. The Arab Cup, once again set for Qatar, will run from December 1 to December 18.
AFCON 2025, originally planned for June but later rescheduled due to fixture congestion and climate considerations, will begin on December 21 in Morocco and end on January 18, 2026.
This means there will be just three days between the Arab Cup final and the opening match of AFCON—a logistical nightmare for national teams and clubs alike.
Selection dilemmas for Algeria and other nations
As defending champions of the Arab Cup, Algeria will be expected to field a competitive squad under Bougherra.
The tournament regulations permit the inclusion of professional players based in the Middle East, meaning key figures such as Riyad Mahrez, Houssem Aouar, Baghdad Bounedjah, and Saïd Benrahma—who all ply their trade in Saudi Arabia or Qatar—could be called up.
However, with Vladimir Petković managing Algeria’s senior squad for AFCON, tough decisions will need to be made.
While players like Mahrez and Aouar are almost certain to be selected for AFCON in Morocco, others such as Sofiane Bendebka or Abdelkader Bedrane could be favoured for the Arab Cup instead.
The dilemma extends beyond Algeria. Several African nations with talent spread across the Middle East, such as Tunisia, Egypt, and Morocco, will also face selection headaches.
The prospect of players switching from one tournament to another in a matter of days is virtually impossible due to the physical and logistical challenges involved.
A gruelling year of international football
The issue is not limited to just these two tournaments.
The packed 2025 football calendar also features:
- FIFA Club World Cup (June 15 – July 13, 2025): Several African club stars will be involved in this expanded 32-team competition.
- African Nations Championship (CHAN) (August 2 – August 30, 2025): Reserved for home-based players, CHAN presents another scheduling conflict for those playing in domestic leagues.
- 2026 FIFA World Cup (June – July 2026): With an expanded 48-team format, the road to the World Cup will be even more demanding for players.
For individuals such as Youcef Belaïli and Mohamed-Amine Tougai, who could potentially feature in all four competitions, the workload could become unsustainable.
Balancing performance and player welfare
The growing number of international competitions raises serious concerns about player fatigue and injury risk.
African footballers, particularly those playing in multiple tournaments, may struggle to maintain peak performance levels while managing an exhausting schedule.
With club and country commitments overlapping more frequently, FIFA, CAF, and national federations must find solutions to protect player welfare while ensuring the integrity of these prestigious tournaments.
Otherwise, fixture congestion could lead to underwhelming performances, burnout, and long-term fitness concerns for some of the continent’s top talents.
