On January 3, all the international players selected for the Africa Cup of Nations (January 9 – February 6 in Cameroon) were laid off by their clubs.

The International Football Association (FIFA) announced, on Sunday, that players will thus be able to play with their clubs until this date, which was initially scheduled for December 27.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said in a letter addressed to the European Club Association (ECA), the European Leagues and Confederations, that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is now allowing clubs to retain their players until January 3.

“Spirit of goodwill and solidarity”

What reassures the English and Italian clubs, who play two days in a row in the tournament and the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France by then.

“This decision was taken in a spirit of goodwill and solidarity with the clubs concerned, given the fact that they are affected by the escalation of Covid cases,” FIFA wrote in its letter.

Last week, the Egyptian Chefs Association threatened not to release international players in the African Cup of Nations, fearing the health protocol of the event against the backdrop of the pandemic. He also noted the risk of foreigners being absent for longer than the planned period of availability, due to “quarantine and travel restrictions” linked specifically to the emergence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.