Manchester United have received good news from FIFA regarding the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) player release date.
Football’s governing body has pushed back the mandatory release deadline for AFCON players from December 8th to December 15th.
This extension provides a major lift for manager Ruben Amorim, who was eager to keep his three AFCON-bound stars for the crucial festive fixtures:
- Amad
- Bryan Mbeumo
- Noussair Mazraoui
The key immediate benefit is the possibility of the trio featuring against AFC Bournemouth on the evening of December 15th, a match Amorim specifically wanted them for.
However, it remains unclear if the 8 PM kick-off against Bournemouth will allow the players to participate before the new deadline takes effect.
If they are required to leave immediately on December 15th, they will still miss up to eight Premier League matches and an FA Cup tie while at the tournament.
