Schedule for 2025 AFCON a difficult situation for players - Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu

Former Ghana international midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has voiced his concerns about the scheduling of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently announced that the next edition of the continent's premier tournament will be held from December 2025 to January 2026.

This timing means that many of Africa's top players, who play for European clubs, will have to leave their teams and miss celebrating the festive season with their families and loved ones. Badu believes this situation is challenging.

"It's a very difficult situation, but this is our job. This is the kind of job we want to do," Badu told Joy Sports.

"You need to be there and represent your country. You need to make yourself proud and your country proud. So whenever you get the call-up, whether it's during Christmas or if the European clubs are worried, you just need to come and do the job for your country."

Badu also called on CAF to prevent such scheduling issues in the future.

"It's unfortunate, but we need to comply and go with it. I hope it will not repeat itself because it will cause a lot of problems for the players," he added.