The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is about to begin. The opening match will be played in Rabat on Sunday, December 21.
Ivory Coast are the defending champions. They lifted the trophy in the 2023 final after beating Nigeria.
This year’s tournament will be held in Morocco. A total of 24 teams will compete. The action will run for a full month. AFCON remains one of the biggest and most respected international tournaments in football.
For Premier League fans, this time of year brings mixed feelings. Many of Africa’s top players play in England. That means several clubs will lose important squad members for weeks.
The moment AFCON appears on the calendar, fans start checking fixtures. Managers start planning without key players. Depth is tested quickly.
Players were officially released on Monday, December 15. FIFA set this date as mandatory. Clubs had no choice but to let their players go.
The tournament kicks off on December 21. Hosts Morocco will face Comoros in the opening match.
Because of this timing, most Premier League players left after games on December 13 and 14. That weekend marked their final club appearances before AFCON.
There was one exception. Manchester United played Bournemouth on December 15 at Old Trafford. Both teams had players selected for AFCON. Special permission was granted by national teams. This allowed players like Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo to feature in the match before leaving.
Now, Premier League clubs must adjust. AFCON has officially arrived. And the impact will be felt across the season.
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