Another international break is over.

Fans are beginning to dread the two-week lull in club football. Apart from the boring fixtures, there is the risk of injuries.

In the case of Nigerian supporters, they watched in horror, as the Super Eagles were held hostage in Libya.
The Group D second leg clash was called off by the Confederation of African Football, CAF, after Libyan authorities diverted the Eagles’ flight to a remote airport. For over 18 hours, they were denied food, water and Internet access.

All this amid the talk of the effects of the increasingly hectic schedule for footballers.“I think the thing that makes every international break feel like too much is what has come before and will come after,” Clinton McDubus, a top football analyst and podcaster, tells Newsmen.

“Right from the November/December World Cup in 2022, the fixture line-up has gotten crazier.

“With an expanded FIFA Club World Cup next year and an expanded FIFA World Cup in 2026 – following all the national team tournaments in different confederations this year – it just feels like too much on the players.

“With the Nations League making these breaks, which used to be merely for friendlies, more competitive, the toll on players is more.

“Teams have to play their best legs and the games themselves require more effort from players, since they are competitive games against teams of comparative strength, with consequences linked to tournament qualifications.”

Interestingly, this is not the last international break of 2024.

The third one for the new season will be between November 11 and 19 – less than a month away.

McDubus adds: “I think it’s going to keep taking a toll on players.“All the travelling and the games are more competitive.

“Ultimately, it might lead to more injuries, a more underwhelming end to the season and forgettable summer tournaments.“The biggest concern, though, is injuries. We can see them happening every week now. It’s going to get worse by next month’s international break.”

A few players have come out to threaten going on strike.

But McDubus feels that will not be as straightforward as it sounds.

He said: “Considering they have contracts at least at club level, I don’t see how it’s possible, legally.“But we will see if there’s a loophole that allows them to take collective action. I think it’s unlikely.“At best, we’ll see more pressure from them through FIFPro, possibly an individual or entirety taking FIFA to court over it.”

There has however been talk of a possible reluctance of clubs to release African players, especially, after the Super Eagles ordeal in Libya.

McDubus noted that “Per FIFA rules, they cannot hold a player back from call-ups.“The only thing they can do is to pressure players to not honour certain call-ups, which might even affect their relationship with said players.”