Ferdinand Calls for UCL, European Leagues Hiatus During AFCON

Former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand has recently urged European and other overseas football leagues to schedule a break during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He argued that AFCON deserves the same level of respect and global visibility as the UEFA European Championship and Copa América, stressing that African players are a core part of top European leagues such as the Premier League and La Liga, and their absence for AFCON will directly dilute the competitive quality of these leagues. Ferdinand questioned why AFCON cannot be held during a common off-period for players like other major continental tournaments.

In the meantime, Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe announced that after the 2027 edition, AFCON will officially return to a four-year cycle. The 2025 AFCON is currently underway in Morocco, running from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026.

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