Angola coach Beaumelle frustrated with delayed AFCON player release

Angola national team coach Patrice Beaumelle has admitted to being frustrated following World governing body FIFA’s decision to cut down the time players must be released to their national teams ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco.

With less than three weeks to the tournament in the North African nation, which runs from December 21st to January 18th, football’s world governing body announced on Wednesday that clubs need only release players from December 15.

This means African players at European clubs and elsewhere cannot join their national teams for AFCON until December 15, unless a consensus or negotiated agreement is reached between the player and the club.

FIFA made its official statement on Wednesday after “fruitful consultations” led by FIFA with key stakeholders. “The Bureau of the Council has taken a decision in relation to the mandatory release of players for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, which will take place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026,” FIFA said.

‘Now everything is at risk’

“What’s frustrating and exhausting is that since the last international window, we’ve been finalising the preparations,” said Beaumelle while reacting to the FIFA decision as quoted by Flashscore.

“We wanted to start the camp on December 8th in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. I’ve been travelling to the site for a month and a half now. We’ve prepared everything, worked on the content of the training sessions, and 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.”

The French tactician has already named his final 28-man squad for the AFCON, confirming the group that will attempt to deliver the Palancas Negras’ best-ever showing at the continental finals.

Angola will kick off their AFCON journey against South Africa on December 21, before facing Zimbabwe on December 26 and Egypt on December 29.

Angola’s final 28-man squad for AFCON 2025

Goalkeepers: Neblú, Hugo Marques, Dominique.

Defenders: Rui Modesto, Eddie Afonso, Tô Carneiro, Núrio Fortuna, Pedro Bondo, David Carmo, Buatu, Gaspar, Clinton Mata.

Midfielders: Beni Mukendi, Show, Fredy, Maestro, Kelliano, Mário Balbúrdia.

Forwards: Zito Luvumbo, Manuel Benson, Milson, Chico Banza, Gelson Dala, Randy Nteka, Ary Papel, Mabululu, Mbala Nzola, Zine.