Manchester United has struggled with the management of the Noussair Mazraoui case as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) approaches. According to ESPN, in a report by Rob Dawson, the English club was frustrated by Morocco’s refusal to allow the full-back to play in the Premier League match against Bournemouth.
In the background is the mandatory release period set for the AFCON: FIFA has established a start date of Monday, December 15, 2025, which is seven days before the first match of each team. However, the Manchester United–Bournemouth match is scheduled for precisely December 15, placing it within the release window, while Morocco (the host country) is set to open the tournament against Comoros on December 21.
Still according to ESPN, Manchester United believed they could count on Mazraoui and, after an initial refusal, appealed to FIFA. The governing body ultimately sided with Morocco, citing its own release rule starting from December 15.
From a sporting perspective, the absence of the Moroccan player weighed heavily on a defense already weakened: Ruben Amorim had to improvise, notably with younger players, and the match ended in a spectacular draw (4-4) at Old Trafford.
The same report also highlights that other cases have been handled differently: Manchester United reportedly secured agreements for Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo after discussions with their federations, whereas the standoff with Morocco did not yield similar results.
