Rio Ferdinand Urges AFCON To Move, Says Mid-Season Schedule Harms European Leagues

According to Ireporter Online, former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has called for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be scheduled alongside the UEFA European Championship and Copa America. Ferdinand emphasized that the current timing of AFCON disrupts the quality of Europe’s top football leagues.

Speaking on his show, Rio Ferdinand Presents, he highlighted the growing prominence of African players in European football, noting that their mid-season departures for international duty often affect club performance. Ferdinand specifically mentioned the Premier League and LaLiga as competitions most affected during January, a period already complicated by fixture congestion and injuries.

“African players are now a major presence in the Premier League, other European leagues, and the Champions League. When they leave for AFCON, it impacts the overall quality of these competitions,” Ferdinand said.

The ongoing 2025 AFCON in Morocco has seen several high-profile players miss club matches, including Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen, Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, and Manchester United’s Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo.

Ferdinand questioned why AFCON continues to take place during the European season, unlike other continental tournaments held in the summer. “There should be a push for AFCON to be scheduled at the same time as the Euros and Copa America. Why should the African tournament interrupt leagues while others do not?” he asked.