This latest edition of the African Cup of Nations begins on the 13th of January 2024 to the 11th of February 2024 and as expected, the standoff between club and country surrounding release of players by big European clubs is begins.
In the past, clubs especially the English premiership having been adamant to release players for national duty sighting the importance of the last stretch of their seasonal campaign while on the other hand downplaying the importance of the AFCON on the FIFA calendar.
This edition, the same headache beckons for English clubs, particularly Liverpool, who heavily rely on Mohammed Salah.
Salah is the current joint top scorer with Erling Haland and has so far led the club to the summit of the table and losing him during this period of the campaign is a major blow to Liverpool.
Ironically, the player has already registered his intention to win this year’s edition which has eluded him on two occasions.
“It means a lot to play in the national team,” Salah was quoted saying during Liverpool’s 4-2 win over Newcastle on Tuesday.
“It’s a great feeling every time you step on the field with the national team jersey.”
“It’s something I cannot take for granted. I am just happy to be there, happy to play in the tournament. “I want to win this competition [AFCON]. I would love to win it,” he reaffirmed.
The Pharoh’s captain would soon depart the United Kingdom to link up with his teammates for the continental championship being held in the Ivory Coast.Salah has been at the losing end of two AFCON finals – in 2017 as a young striker and in 2021 as the captain who tearfully saw his side lose to Senegal in a penalty shootout.
Some African footballers expected to leave their clubs for the tournament are,
Arsenal: Mohamed Elneny (Egypt) and Thomas Partey (Ghana).
Chelsea: Nicolas Jackson (Senegal),
Manchester United: Andre Onana (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia), Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco).
Tottenham Hotspur: Yves Bissouma (Mali), Pape Matar Sarr,(Senegal).
West Ham United: Mohammed Kudus (Ghana), Benrahma (Algeria), Maxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast), Nayef Aguerd (Morocco).
Fulham: Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Fode Ballo-Toure (Senegal) Brentford: Frank Onyeka (Nigeria), Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Yoane Wissa (DR Congo).
Crystal Palace: Jordan Ayew, Jeffrey Schlupp (Ghana), Cheick Doucoure (Mali).
Brighton & Hove Albion: Tariq Lamptey (Ghana), Carlos Baleba (Cameroon), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast).
Aston Villa: Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso).
Nottingham Forest: Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi (both Nigeria), Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Ibrahim Sangare (all Ivory Coast), Moussa Niakhate, Cheikhou Kouyate (both Senegal).
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria), Boubacar Traore (Mali).
Everton: Idrissa Gueye (Senegal).
AFC Bournemouth: Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Antoine Semenyo (Ghana), Hamed Traore (Ivory Coast).
Luton Town: Issa Kabore (Burkina Faso), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (DR Congo).
Sheffield United: Ismaila Coulibaly (Mali), Anis Ben Slimane (Tunisia) Burnley: Anass Zaroury (Morocco), and Lyle Foster (South Africa).
These players’ participation in AFCON 2023 is a major blow for their clubs during the last stretch of the EPL campaign.
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