Ferdinand: "European Leagues Should Pause During Africa Cup of Nations"

English legend Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United defender, has reignited the debate surrounding the global football calendar due to the Africa Cup of Nations, which is scheduled to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Ferdinand highlighted that the continuation of major leagues, such as the English Premier League and other European competitions, during the tournament negatively impacts the level of competition and match quality, especially with over 40 Premier League players absent to represent their national teams in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The former England defender stated on a program he hosts: "African players have become pillars of major clubs in Europe, and when they leave to join their national teams, the level of competition deteriorates. Why isn't the tournament held at a similar time to the European Championship or Copa América when the leagues are paused?"

Rio also wrote on the program's official account on platform "X": "Leagues should stop during the Africa Cup of Nations, it's simple. This would prevent a decline in the quality of competition due to the absence of African players."

Ferdinand believes that the continuation of domestic competitions during the Africa Cup of Nations period does not serve the interests of clubs nor does it honor the significant role played by African players in European clubs. He called for a "reconsideration" of the tournament's timing to avoid conflicts with the club season.