Confederation of African football (CAF) has introduced a series of new operational and squad regulations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON )in Morocco, with stricter deadlines, tighter travel rules and revised player-release arrangements confirmed ahead of the tournament.
National teams will now be required to submit their final AFCON squad at least 10 days before the opening match, with late submissions attracting a $10,000 fine. CAF has also introduced new travel limits, allowing only 18 players per squad to move between cities by plane, road or train for match commitments.
Teams travelling from Rabat to Casablanca will be required to do so on matchday morning, while sides heading to other host cities will be permitted to move a day earlier.
Nations expected to change venues during the group stage include Zimbabwe, South Africa, Angola, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Botswana, DR Congo, Benin, Mozambique, Cameroon, Gabon, Comoros, Mali, Zambia, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea.
Ivory Coast are the defending Champions of the African Cup of Nations. Photo Credit: Getty Images
CAF has also restricted pre-match preparations, with teams barred from holding full training sessions at match venues on the eve of their games. Instead, they may only visit the stadium between 14:00 and 21:00 for familiarisation, subject to CAF approval.
Meanwhile, CAF and FIFA have jointly confirmed the official competition window. AFCON 2025 will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, and the mandatory release of players will begin on 15 December, seven days later than usual, in a bid to reduce conflict with European club fixtures.
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Both bodies have encouraged clubs and national teams to resolve release disputes amicably, with FIFA available to mediate if needed. Players may also be selected for both AFCON 2025 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with no restrictions placed on dual participation.
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AFCON 2025 is now fully embedded in the Men’s International Match Calendar, with preparations intensifying.
