FIFA has confirmed that clubs can keep their Africa Cup of Nations stars including Mohamed Salah, Bryan Mbeumo and Achraf Hakimi until December 15, giving teams an extra week before releasing them for the tournament in Morocco.
Top European clubs feared losing key players for even longer, but FIFA eased the release rules following discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The AFCON, featuring 24 nations, runs from 21 December to 18 January, meaning some Premier League sides could still be without important players for up to five weeks.
Liverpool will lose Salah, Manchester City will be without Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Manchester United will miss Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui. Sunderland and Wolves could each lose several players, while Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds will not be affected.
PSG will be without Hakimi, but clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Juventus have no players involved.
AFCON favourites include Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Senegal.
Top European clubs feared losing key players for even longer, but FIFA eased the release rules following discussions with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The AFCON, featuring 24 nations, runs from 21 December to 18 January, meaning some Premier League sides could still be without important players for up to five weeks.
Liverpool will lose Salah, Manchester City will be without Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Manchester United will miss Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui. Sunderland and Wolves could each lose several players, while Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds will not be affected.
PSG will be without Hakimi, but clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Juventus have no players involved.
AFCON favourites include Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Senegal.
