interview
2025: Basel
Angola coach Patrice Boehmer strongly opposes FIFA. What’s the reason? The player release date for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has been changed from December 8 to December 15.
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The modification was made under pressure from major European clubs and is bound to disrupt the preparations of several African teams. This also goes against FIFA’s usual rules, which require a 14-day window before major events:
Releasing a player on the 15th to participate in the African Cup of Nations starting on the 21st… This is nonsense. You can’t prepare a serious team in just two or three sessions. That’s not a training camp anymore, it’s just a patchwork.
Boehmer didn’t hesitate any longer. He believes FIFA lacks respect for African football:
FIFA will only turn to Africa when elections are approaching. They didn’t give the African Cup the value it deserved.
The 2025 African Cup of Nations will be held from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.