Former England defender Rio Ferdinand calls for AFCON rethink to favor clubs who invests in African stars
3rd January 2026
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand has questioned the scheduling of the Africa Cup of Nations, saying it unfairly impacts both African players and the clubs they represent.
Speaking in a wide-ranging discussion on international football, Ferdinand compared AFCON with Europe’s major tournaments, arguing that the African competition should be played during the off-season, just like the Euros and Copa América.
“The Euros and Copa América are played when everyone is off. Why isn’t the African version?” he asked. “African players are pillars of our biggest clubs; the schedule needs to reflect their importance. There has to be a push.”
AFCON is now staged midway through the European club season, forcing many top players to leave their teams at a crucial point in domestic campaigns.
Ferdinand said the absence of Africa’s leading talents has a visible impact on the quality of Europe’s top leagues, including the Premier League and La Liga.
“It doesn’t make sense. We’re diluting the product,” he said. “When you have so many stellar African talents leaving the Premier League, La Liga and other top divisions, the quality drops visibly. Clubs investing in these players are being unfairly disadvantaged.”
African footballers play central roles at many of Europe’s biggest clubs, with their performances often decisive in title races and continental competitions.
While organisers have previously pointed to climate conditions in parts of Africa as a reason for the current schedule, Ferdinand believes the growing influence of African players in world football means the issue must be revisited.
His comments are likely to reignite debate around AFCON’s timing, balancing the needs of national teams, players and clubs, and how best to protect the prestige of one of the continent’s most celebrated tournaments.