AFCON 2025: FIFA’s surprise rule change hits Group B rivals and Bafana Barely Affected

Star names from AFCON 2025 Group B – including Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi – will remain with their European clubs for an extra week before reporting for continental duty, FIFA confirmed on Wednesday.

The global body amended its player release rules, allowing clubs to keep their African stars until 15 December, instead of the original 8 December deadline, easing concerns for teams like Liverpool, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain who feared losing key players for up to eight matches during a congested period.

The Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco on 21 December and runs until 18 January, with Group B featuring South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Angola, and Zimbabwe. While the decision is a major boost for European clubs, it has minimal impact on Bafana Bafana, whose squad is largely locally based.

The last domestic fixture involving most Bafana players will be on 6 December, when Orlando Pirates – the club contributing the bulk of Broos’ squad – face Marumo Gallants in the Carling Knockout final.

FIFA said the move followed “fruitful consultations” with CAF and urged national associations and clubs to “engage in good faith bilateral discussions” to manage individual cases.

For Bafana, the timing works perfectly. Hugo Broos’ men will have a full camp without disruption, while their Group B rivals juggle late arrivals of European-based stars like Salah, Hakimi, and Mbeumo – a potential advantage for South Africa as they prepare to face Angola on 22 December in Marrakech.