Angola’s national team head coach, Patrice Beaumelle, has added his voice to the growing condemnation across Africa after FIFA confirmed that clubs wi
Angola’s national team head coach, Patrice Beaumelle, has added his voice to the growing condemnation across Africa after FIFA confirmed that clubs will only be required to release players seven days before the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
His criticism deepens an already heated debate over what many see as the latest example of global football’s unequal treatment of African competitions.
The controversy erupted after the Bureau of the FIFA Council announced that clubs worldwide must release players on 15 December 2025, just six days before AFCON kicks off on 21 December.
The ruling sharply contradicts FIFA’s own regulations, which mandate a minimum 14-day release period for major international tournaments.
The decision has therefore generated widespread outrage among football federations, coaches and stakeholders across the continent, who argue that African teams are being placed at a competitive disadvantage.
Coach Beaumelle, visibly frustrated, did not mince words. He accused FIFA of prioritising African support during internal elections yet consistently sidelining the continent when it comes to respect and equitable treatment.
“FIFA only needs Africa during elections, but it doesn’t value our competitions like AFCON or give them the recognition they deserve,” he remarked, echoing a sentiment shared by many in African football circles.
This is not the first time AFCON has been at the centre of club-versus-country tensions.
Over the years, European clubs have often pressured African players to skip the tournament, with some managers openly questioning its timing and relevance.
Despite AFCON being one of the world’s most historic and competitive continental tournaments—producing legends from Abedi Pelé to Samuel Eto’o—African football administrators have repeatedly fought for its respect on the global calendar.
The latest FIFA directive, critics argue, only reinforces a perception that African competitions are not regarded on the same level as their European or South American counterparts.
FIFA, however, defended its decision by stating that the seven-day window aligns with principles applied during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which also had an adjusted release period due to scheduling constraints.
African officials insist the comparison is flawed, arguing that AFCON has its own established rhythm and cannot be squeezed to fit into precedents set for tournaments with entirely different considerations.
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