Afcon 2025 schedule ‘difficult’ for foreign-based players – Agyemang Badu

Former Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu says the date for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will put African players in a tight situation.

Last week, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the decision to play the next edition of the continent’s flagship tournament between December 2025 and January 2026.

The period of the tournament will mean some of the continent’s best players who play in Europe would have to sacrifice their time at their various clubs as well as miss celebrating the festive period with family and loved ones, a situation Badu believes is difficult.

“It’s a very difficult situation but this is our job. This is the kind of job we want to do,” he told Joy Sports.

“You need to be there and represent your country, you need to make yourself proud, your country proud so whenever you get the call-up whether it’s Christmas time, whether the European club will worry us, you just need to come and do the job for your country.”

He also urged the continent’s highest football governing body to ensure there is no repetition of this situation.

“It’s just unfortunate but we need to abide with it and just go with it. I hope it will not repeat itself because it will bring a lot of chaos for the players,” he added.