Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has called for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be scheduled alongside major international tournaments such as the UEFA European Championship and the Copa America, arguing that the current timing negatively affects Europe’s top domestic leagues.
Speaking on his programme Rio Ferdinand Presents, the ex-centre-back said the increasing presence of African footballers in elite European competitions makes the mid-season AFCON break more disruptive than ever.
Ferdinand highlighted leagues like the Premier League and La Liga as those most impacted, particularly during January, a period already crowded with fixtures and heightened injury risks for clubs.
“African players are now a huge part of the game at the highest level,” Ferdinand said. “They are starring in the Premier League, across Europe, and in the Champions League.”
He added that the absence of these players during AFCON inevitably reduces the overall standard of competition across major leagues.
“When they leave for AFCON, it affects the quality of the Premier League, La Liga, and other European competitions,” he noted.
The 2025 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is currently being hosted in Morocco, with several top names missing club action while representing their countries. Notable players at the tournament include Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen, Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman, Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, and Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo.
Ferdinand questioned why AFCON continues to be played during the European season, unlike the Euros and Copa America, which take place during the summer when club football is paused.
“There needs to be serious discussion about aligning AFCON with the Euros and Copa America,” he said. “Those tournaments happen when leagues are on break, so why is Africa’s competition different?”
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