By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (December 24^th 2025)

Date-juggling

FIFA president, Gianni Infantino’s decision to impose the Club World Cup (CWC) in the summer had dire consequences. Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui is far from the only player to be caught in the increasingly tedious club versus country tug of war over the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but it has grabbed the attention of the public more than most – there are over 300 players at this, the 35^th AFCON who play their trade with European clubs.

The needs and interests of those clubs often clash with the requirements of AFCON – the health and safety of players must be the first concern, and that is not always conducive with the wishes of European clubs for summer AFCONs. Climatic conditions are paramount. While Britain has a reputation for rain, it cannot compare to Africa’s rainy season – even Morocco – a stones-throw from the European mainland has a rainy season, and this year’s was particularly nasty with the fatal flash floods in Safi on the eve of the tournament.

Far from blaming Morocco and AFCON for the timing of this AFCON and also its inevitable effects, Europe’s governing body, UEFA, and its clubs should take a long hard look at its own conduct. It had the chance to get what it wanted as Morocco did not want to host this AFCON now. Its bid, which was accepted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in September 2023 was for Morocco to host in the summer just past.

Morocco deserved support from the football world, especially from Europe as it suited the interests of AFCON and European clubs for this AFCON to have taken place in the summer as Morocco wanted. If that had happened, the Moroccan rainy season would not have dampened enthusiasm or affected the quality of the football on show, and crucially the interests of the European clubs would have been protected too.

More than 300 footballers who play for European clubs are part of this AFCON – that is more than half the total players at this AFCON. Apart from those on their winter breaks that means their clubs have to do without them at a critical stage of their seasons. While European clubs frequently complain about it, this time they should not. Many are still blissfully unaware that Morocco wanted to host this AFCON in the summer bit was prevented from doing so. If the Atlas Lions had been supported by Europe when they should have been those same clubs that loudly complain would not have lost a single player – not one – to AFCON.

I had been trying to raise this point and secure comment on it for months – the opportunities remain sparse. I asked CAF to comment. I asked the Local Organising Committee at this AFCON and I asked the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) to comment on this. Not one has answered and I have been hindered from raising this and obtaining comment about it.

This had the effect of preventing this issue from being raised. I also asked about it in Europe – most didn’t get the point and still don’t.

The Killing of AFCON

The 20 times champions of English football’s top flight wanted to Mazraoui to play against AFC Bournemouth on December 15^th before departing for Morocco and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). They had secured agreement from Cameroon and la Côte d’Ivoire for Bryan Mbuemo and Amad Diallo to leave for the 35^th AFCON after the match against Bournemouth – both left by private plane. Manchester United thought that it was unfair on them that Morocco would not do the same – it was not.

Manchester United did not have a case. Morocco and the Atlas Lions’ coach, Walid Regragui, and the FRMF rightly stood firm – Mazraoui had to report at Morocco’s camp on time. Morocco would play the opening match on December 21^st whereas both Cameroon and la Côte d’Ivoire’s opening matches were tonight. That meant that the west-Africans could play the match against Bournemouth and still report within the 7 days that FIFA had imposed, but with a proviso that the clubs could negotiate with the national federations.

First all, seven days is nowhere near enough preparation time. It does not allow the teams to play enough friendlies in advance and develop the camaraderie and fully prepare as they have a right to. The proper window for such tournaments is 15 days not seven, but even that reduced time was too much for some. And in Manchester United’s case, they surely knew that Morocco’s first match opened the tournament on December 21^st. If Mazraoui had played against Bournemouth he would not even have had a week to get prepared. If anyone has been treated unfairly in this affair, it is Morocco – they are not the villains, they are the victims.