Premier League clubs relieved as AFCON players to stay with teams until January 3

As Premier League has heed into busy festive period, several clubs and ir fans are worried that some of ir stars would leave ir clubs early to play in African Cup of Nations (AFCON). rescheduled AFCON will take place in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022.

latest development is that Confederation of African Football (CAF) has permitted players competing in tournament to play for ir clubs until January 3. This news is most favourable to Liverpool, who are set to face title rivals, Chelsea, at Stamford on January 2. Reds will be without star duo of Mohamed Salah and Sio Mane once AFCON tournament begins.

CAF permit Premier League players to join teams on January 3

FIFA released a statement to notify Premier League clubs and ir fans that players competing at AFCON will no longer need to be released 14 days before continental championship begins. This will be a huge relief to some clubs that could have lost several of ir African stars by official release date of December 27.

"This decision is taken in spirit of goodwill and solidarity with affected clubs in recognition of fact that y, like all members of football community, have been versely affected by onset of COVID pandemic," re a letter sent on Sunday by FIFA to European Leagues.

"It is also assumed that a spirit of mutual cooperation remains between CAF and all relevant stakeholders in this regard, including related to release of players and provision of sporting exemptions to travel and quarantine restrictions if required in future," ded letter sent by FIFA deputy general secretary Mattias Grafstrom.

Premier League players that will depart for AFCON

Below is list of all players who would compete in upcoming AFCON and list of clubs that would be impacted as a result.

Arsenal:

Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast)

Burnley:

Maxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast)

Chelsea:

Edouard Mendy (Senegal)

Crystal Palace:

Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast), Cheikhou Kouyate (Senegal)

Leicester City:

Nampalys Mendy (Senegal)

Liverpool:

Sio Mane (Senegal), Naby Keita (Guinea), Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Manchester City:

Riy Mahrez (Algeria)

Manchester United:

Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast)

Watford:

am Masina (Morocco), Imran Louza (Morocco), Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)

West Ham:

Said Benrahma (Algeria)

Wolves:

Romain Saiss (Morocco), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast)

Image: Twitter/@LFC