Uganda national team head coach, Paul Put, has criticised FIFA for adjusting the official release date for players ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), TalkTalk Nigeria reports.

Traditionally, clubs have been mandated to release African players at least two weeks before the start of the tournament to allow teams proper preparation time. However, for the 2025 edition, FIFA—reportedly bowing to pressure from top European clubs—has shortened the release window to just one week.

The decision has thrown preparations into disarray for many of the qualified nations, including Uganda.

Speaking to the Uganda Football Federation’s official website, Put expressed frustration:

“We received a message from FIFA that we can only have the players abroad on the 16th or 17th. I had hoped to get them from the 8th. Now we will be with half the team until then.”

He added that while the situation complicates his plans, the team would do its best under the circumstances.

“It becomes very difficult to make good preparation but we will deal with it. It is unfortunate but it is like this.”

Uganda’s Cranes are currently gearing up for the AFCON 2025 finals scheduled to take place in Casablanca, Morocco.

Opinion: A Decision That Sidelines Africa—Again

FIFA’s new release rule may seem like a technical adjustment, but its impact is deeply unfair—and painfully familiar. African teams consistently struggle for equal treatment when it comes to player availability, especially when their stars play in top European leagues.

Cutting preparation time from two weeks to one is not just inconvenient; it undermines the competitive integrity of the tournament. AFCON is the biggest football event on the continent, yet decisions like this send a message that African competitions are secondary to club football interests.

Coaches like Paul Put plan meticulously. In a sport where chemistry, tactical bonding, and physical readiness matter, losing a full week of preparation is huge—especially for teams without the luxury of regularly assembling their full squads.

While Uganda and other nations will try to “deal with it,” the truth is simple:
African football deserves respect, not last-minute compromises.