CAPE TOWN: African countries were left scrambling to change their preparation plans after a surprise FIFA decision to cut down the time players must be released to their national teams ahead of this month’s Africa Cup of Nations finals.
With less than three weeks to the tournament in Morocco, which runs from December 21 to January 18, soccer’s world governing body announced on Wednesday that clubs need only release players from December 15 instead of a fortnight before the start of a continental championship, as is the FIFA regulation.
Senegal have canceled their planned training camp in Tunisia, sources said, while Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and defending champions Ivory Coast are having to rethink plans for preparations in Portugal and Spain.
“What’s frustrating and exhausting is that since the last international window, we’ve been finalizing the preparations,” said Angola’s French coach Patrice Beaumelle.
“We wanted to start the camp on December 8 in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. I’ve been traveling to the site for a month and a half now. We’ve prepared everything, worked on the content of the training sessions, the venues for the friendly matches. Now everything is at risk.
“We have to be in Morocco on the 18th to play on the 22nd. So we can no longer call it a training camp,” he added.
Several planned friendly internationals to warm up for the tournament also face being canceled.
“We initially wanted to play two friendly matches, on December 14 and 18, but we should only play one, against an opponent yet to be determined,” said Gabon coach Thierry Mouyouma.
The majority of the 24 countries competing at the Cup of Nations finals draw their players from clubs in Europe, who would ordinarily have had to release them after this weekend.
FIFA said the shortened release period, the same approach used for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was agreed after consultations with the Confederation of African Football and other stakeholders to “reduce the impact on various parties”, without elaborating.
Mali coach Tom Saintfiet, however, said it showed a lack of respect for African football and that European clubs were given a higher priority by FIFA.
The late notification was also criticized by the coaches, given the dates for the Cup of Nations finals were announced in June last year, giving FIFA ample time to make its ruling.
FIFA ruling on players’ release date upsets Cup of Nations preparations
https://arab.news/5vscx
FIFA ruling on players’ release date upsets Cup of Nations preparations
- Senegal have canceled their planned training camp in Tunisia, sources said
- Several planned friendly internationals to warm up for the tournament also face being canceled
FIA’s United Against Online Abuse campaign welcomes Palestinian student
- Ghada Ashour, 24, who grew up in Gaza, becomes fifth scholar selected for FIA’s flagship scholarship initiative
DUBAI: The FIA’s United Against Online Abuse campaign has welcomed Ghada Ashour, a 24-year-old student from Palestine, to its flagship scholarship program, created to empower the next generation of researchers in the fight against online abuse in sport.
Ashour grew up in Gaza where she had been studying remotely until gaining a place on the UAOA scholarship, which brought her to Dublin City University, Ireland.
Becoming the fifth scholar to join the program, she was selected based on her interests in social media, and passion for advancing insights in this area for the benefit of sportspeople.
Launched in 2023, the program offers talented students and young professionals from diverse backgrounds the chance to engage in research on the impact, prevalence, and prevention of online abuse in sport.
Funded by the FIA Foundation, the UAOA scholars have been selected to undertake research dedicated to positive social change.
Ashour’s thesis, which will be printed in English and Arabic, will focus specifically on the relationship between athlete activism and online abuse.
Athletes increasingly speak out on war, conflict, and social and environmental issues. Although the attention such athletes bring can be positive, research indicates it can lead to significant abuse.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, founder of the UAOA campaign, said: “The FIA is committed to extending opportunities across the world while inspiring and developing the next generation.
“Education lies at the core of this mission, and I am pleased to welcome Ghada as the latest student in the UAOA Scholarship Programme.
“Her experience and research will help broaden the international perspective on this critical issue. This pioneering research program will help ensure we safeguard the future of sport for generations to come.”
Ashour said she was “truly grateful” to the FIA leader: “It is a dream come true to study the subject I am passionate about at a leading institution in this field.
“I am so excited to advance the field of research in online abuse in sport and to contribute to this prevalent topic which is impacting so many people’s lives on a daily basis.”
The UAOA’s 2025 Barometer Report found that 75 percent of sports federations report continued threats against competitors and their families, and that 90 percent believe abuse could force athletes to leave their sport.
Dublin City University is a leading academic institution in the study of online abuse.
Each scholar is fully funded and mentored by leading experts in the field. They are able to attend UAOA events, where they can share their findings with a global audience of policymakers, sports federations, and digital platforms.
The inaugural cohort of four UAOA scholars included participants from Italy, South Africa, the UK, and Mexico.
