Rio Ferdinand is a former Manchester United captain
Legendary footballer Rio Ferdinand has called on European and other foreign leagues to go on break when the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament starts.
According to him, Africa has produced top‑performing footballers who play for various elite clubs in Europe, and their contributions are immense to the beauty of the game.
In light of this, the former Manchester United captain has urged football authorities in Europe to ensure that domestic leagues and other major competitions do not clash with the AFCON.
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He believes this would help project the tournament to a global audience and give players and officials the necessary respect they deserve, similar to the European Championship and Copa América.
“African players are so prominent now. There are so many more African players playing on the biggest stage, in the Premier League, in other European leagues, and in the Champions League. So, when those players leave, it dilutes the quality of the Premier League, La Liga, and all the other leagues we’re talking about.
“So, there’s got to be a push for this tournament to be scheduled around the same time as the other tournaments that are going on: the Euros, the Copa América. Why are they played when everyone’s off, but the African version isn’t?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has announced that after the 2027 AFCON which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, the subsequent editions will be held every four years.
The 2025 AFCON is currently ongoing in Morocco, having started on December 21, 2025, and is expected to conclude on January 18, 2026.
Watch Ferdinand’s remarks below:
Leagues should break for AFCON, simple as that! Would stop the quality being diluted without African players
CC: @rioferdy5, @joelbeya, #AFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/89okrZSwfo
— Rio Ferdinand Presents (@RioMeets) January 2, 2026
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