AFCON: Mbeumo, Diallo, Mazraoui - Manchester United in standoffs with several nations

Whilst AFCON 2025 starts next Sunday, some clubs are flirting with the player release deadline.

It is the same old story. One week from the AFCON 2025 kick-off in Morocco (from 21st December to 18th January), some clubs are playing added time to release African players.

Whilst FIFA moved the release date to 15th December to satisfy their demands, some Old Continent clubs are retaining their players until the last minute.

Manchester United in standoffs with three nations

Same scenario for Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco), retained by Manchester United for the Premier League's 16th matchday conclusion, as confirmed by manager Ruben Amorim.

"We are still in talks with the national teams. The match is on Monday, they are here and training, but we are preparing all scenarios for the match."

This should fan the flames of the club-versus-country wars. A few weeks ago, the decision to postpone the player release date had provoked an outcry in Africa.

Patrice Beaumelle, Angola's manager, had termed it "moronic", highlighting the general impression that "Africa and CAF are colonised".

Similar scenario at Roma

AS Roma are the perfect illustration, with two very different situations concerning Moroccan Neil El Aynaoui and Ivorian Evan Ndicka.

Even though in theory clubs are required to release this Monday the players retained for AFCON 2025, Evan Ndicka does indeed feature in the squad revealed this morning for Monday evening's Serie A match against Como.

According to Corriere della Sera, FIFA and the Ivorian Football Federation have given their green light for a delayed departure for the centre-back. With Ivory Coast only entering the fray at AFCON on 24th December, compared to 21st for Morocco, this slight delay was judged compatible with the regulations.

The situation is different for Neil El Aynaoui. The Moroccan midfielder will take the plane as early as Monday in early afternoon to join the Atlas Lions.

The FRMF insisted on immediate release, with Morocco opening the competition on Sunday for the opening match against Comoros. Faced with calendar constraints and after exchanges with FIFA, Roma had to resign themselves to letting their player leave before the Como match.

This article was originally published on Afrik Foot.