Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has reignited debate over the global football calendar, arguing that domestic leagues should take a break during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to preserve competition quality.
As AFCON 2025 unfolds, Ferdinand highlighted the impact of top African players leaving European clubs to represent their countries.
More than 40 Premier League players have departed for the tournament, a situation he says undermines both the on-field product and the value of African football.
“African players are so prominent now,” Ferdinand said. “There are so many African players playing on the biggest stage in the Premier League, other European leagues and the Champions League.
“When those players leave, it’s diluting the quality of the Premier League, La Liga and all the other leagues we talk about.”
Ferdinand questioned why AFCON is still scheduled during the European season, unlike other major international tournaments.
“There’s got to be a push for this tournament to be put around the same time as the others,” he added. “The Euros, the Copa America; they’re played when everyone’s off. Why isn’t the African version?
The former centre-back admitted he struggles to understand the reasoning behind the current setup, pointing out that clubs with African internationals are left at a disadvantage.
“It just doesn’t make sense to me,” he said. “It’s detrimental to a lot of teams that have African players in them.”
AFCON has long been a source of tension between clubs and national teams, but Ferdinand’s remarks echo growing calls within European football for greater alignment and recognition of Africa’s premier international competition.
