Comoros’ hopes of making an impact in the opening game of the African Cup of Nations have been severely impacted following a surprise decision by FIFA to delay the mandatory release of players, according to a frustrated coach, Stefano Cusin.
The island nation, the smallest competing at the tournament, is set to face highly favoured hosts Morocco in the opening match in Rabat on December 21.
However, their crucial preparation plans have been thrown into “disarray” after world football’s governing body announced last week that clubs now only need to release players on December 15.
This new date is seven days shy of the regulated 14-day period traditionally allocated before a continental championship kicks off.
Comoros, who are competing in the finals for a second time and hope to replicate the giant-killing heroics of the 2021 edition, are reportedly among the worst affected. The team draws all its players from clubs across Europe and the Middle East, making early assembly vital.
“We planned a training camp in Tunisia with a friendly game against Botswana this coming weekend,” Coach Cusin told Reuters. “Everything was ready, but now we have had to change everything. It affects us more than other teams because we’re going to play in the opening game.”
The unexpected change has forced the cancellation of their pre-tournament camp and planned friendlies, leaving them with minimal time to gel before the high-stakes clash against the hosts.
Coach Cusin expressed his anger over the late notice, emphasising the impact on his team’s readiness.
“Releasing players on December 15 means we’ll only get in four or five training sessions before our first game,” Cusin added. “We are angry about that; it was not correct to tell us just one week before. If we’d known from the beginning, then we could have made a different plan.”
The upcoming Cup of Nations runs from December 21 to January 18, with the tournament dates specifically set to avoid conflict with major European club competitions like the Champions League. Despite this scheduling attempt, the delay in player release is causing major logistical headaches for Comoros and many of the other 24 nations competing.
