Top Premiership clubs will face disruptions next season as Cameroon, next AFCON hosts announced that the competition that was earlier scheduled to take place in the summer has been moved up to January.
Liverpool will be without two of their ruthless front three Mo Salah and Sadio Mane for a minimum of six games as both strikers will be in action for Egypt and Senegal respectively. They will also have to let go of midfielder Nabi Keita.
“It (2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)) will be played in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2021. Date changed for weather reasons at Cameroon’s request,” the federation posted on Twitter after a meeting with representatives from the Confederation of African Football.
Manchester City will have to adjust to life without the Algerian Ryad Mahrez for as he may receive a call up should his team qualify for the finals.
Leicester City will next to Liverpool probably feel the greatest loss as they will be without defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi who will be in action for the Nigerian Super Eagles. Ndidi is at the moment arguably the best in his position in the Premier League and would prove a big loss even if it’s just for January.
Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicholas Pepe may be making appearances for their respective national sides too and would have to make the long journey south for the AFCON.