FIFA on releasing players for AFCON
Following the decision taken by FIFA that clubs can release players for AFCON on the 15 December 2025 . That has raised issues on how the FIFA viewed the tournament . It has been raised that , this is to undermine the African football comparing to UEFA tournaments . Uganda international Timothy Batabaire who is a former Bloemfontein Celtics , Bidvest Wits and Vasco Da Gama in South Africa said " The leadership of FIFA and CAF must try to enter into agreement . As it now leaders of CAF need to go and approach various clubs and speak to them , can you release our players early ? , we got this tournament . There are players who are not playing everyday .
" I don't believe being in camp for longer because what is a purpose of being in camp ? , you know all your players , you have been playing this qualifiers in and out , you know the players . By now you should know your team , know the kind of players , chemistry . You should know your players as a coach , understand your players individually . At this moment in time there's players who are playing week in and week out in the European league . So , you know exactly what you want to use the player for . Yes they are coming in for seven days but in the national team that's good enough . You know why that is working for Bafana Bafana ? , the coach had a pool of players . The coach knew the calendar , he knew , so he prepared his players " .
The African football correspondence Mr Mamadou Gaye speaking on Soccer Africa from Abidjan says " he was unable to leave due to operations in Cameroon . It has combined a police attacks . He was stucked in a noisy airport , went down to the toilets and experience smoking everywhere . Regarding the FIFA decision on AFCON he said " we could foresee it coming , the minute AFCON moves to Christmas and New Year ; obviously that was going to happen . We know that in Europe the most important timing of the season is between Christmas , New Year and January . That's where the title is decided and you like it or not . All those African players , the best African players that we are proud of are training in Europe .
" That's where they are making the money , that's where they become millionaire , that's where Sadio Mane and so many of them are transforming the entire village . They are building infrastructure , you have to give it to them and these players on top of that are highly professionals . You don't come to the national team for training , how to shoot a ball , how to kick a penalty . You come to the training , to the national team to play , to organize . These people are highly professionals .
" What disrespect for ? , where in Africa you take most countries they cannot even pay bonuses of the national team , they cannot even pay salaries . These people are playing in Europe , they are making very good income . You will never heard that a player from Man UTD or Real Madrid or Lens in France ; did not get salaries , and that is coming from Africa . When it's time for complain , Africans are the first ones . We are going to the AFCON now ; you heard that Bafana Bafana did not received their past bonuses , Nigeria . Allow these people to make money " .