01/03/2023

Liverpool trio Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita and Sadio Mane could miss part of next season.
This is because the Africa Cup of Nations is set to be reverted from the summer to January and February, starting in 2021.
Salah and Mane are very important players for Liverpool
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The decision was made following a Confederation of African Football meeting which decided the summer climates of host nation Cameroon would be too much for the players to deal with.
Egypt talisman Salah and Senegal star Mane are near certainties to be picked for their national sides for the finals.
The Reds could also be without midfielder Keita, who will represent Guinea if they qualify for Cameroon.
Liverpool coped very badly when Mane went on AFCON duty in 2017 – Jurgen Klopp’s men winning one of the seven games without Mane.
However, it should be noted that it’s not clear whether Salah, Mane and Keita will be out of action for their club as qualifying for AFCON 2021 has not finished.
This decision does not just affect Liverpool, with a number of African players playing in the Premier League at risk of missing a part of next season.
Manchester City are set to be without Riyad Mahrez, who plays for reigning AFCON champions Algeria.
Mahrez helped Algeria win the last AFCON
AFCON 2021 could hit Arsenal hard too
Forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may not be available for Arsenal, although his native Gabon did not qualify for the last AFCON in 2019.
The Gunners are set to be without record signing Nicolas Pepe, who plays for AFCON regulars Ivory Coast.
Tottenham have a member of the Ivory Coast squad among their ranks too in full-back Serge Aurier.
As do Manchester United, who will probably be without centre-back Eric Bailly, although he’s still recovering from a knee injury sustained last season.
Leicester, who have been a surprise package this term, have a strong African contingent – Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho play for Nigeria, while Daniel Amartey represents Ghana.