More than 30 current Premier League players will miss up to six matches next season.
Africa Cup of Nations 2021 has been rescheduled and will take place in January, unlike the last edition. In 2017, the tournament was shifted to June which was a major boost for Premier League clubs.
But AFCON has again shifted it back to January for the next edition. It has been moved because of weather conditions in Cameroon, the host country.
The tournament will now be played from 9th January to 6th February 2021. The rescheduled tournament will collide with the European club fixtures. This would affect the Premier League clubs as more than 30 current Premier League players are from African nations.
The Premier League players who will miss club action due to Africa Cup of Nations 2021:
Arsenal – Pierre-Emerick Aubmaeyang (Gabon), Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast), Mohamed Elneny (Egypt – currently on loan at Besiktas)
Aston Villa – Marvelous Nakamba (Zimbabwe), Trezeguet (Egypt), Jonathan Kodjia (Ivory Coast), Ahmed Elmohamady (Egypt)
Brighton – Leon Balogun (Nigeria), Yves Bissouma (Mali), Gaetan Bong (Cameroon), Percy Tau (South Africa – currently on loan at Club Brugge)
Crystal Palace – Jeffrey Schlupp (Ghana), Cheikhou Kouyate (Senegal), Jordan Ayew (Ghana), Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast)
Everton – Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Ivory Coast), Oumar Niasse (Senegal), Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo – currently on loan at Sporting Lisbon)
Leicester City – Kelechi Ịheanachọ (Nigeria), Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria), Daniel Amartey (Ghana), Islam Slimani (Algeria – currently on loan at Monaco), Rachid Ghezzal (Algeria – currently on loan at Fiorentina)
Liverpool – Naby Keita (Guinea), Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Sadio Mane (Senegal).
Joel Matip (Cameroon) has retired from international football.
Manchester City – Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
Manchester United – Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast)
Newcastle – Christian Atsu (Ghana), Henri Saivet (Senegal)
Southampton – Moussa Djenepo (Mali), Sofiane Boufal (Morocco), Mario Lemina (Gabon – currently on loan at Galatasaray)
Tottenham – Victor Wanyama (Kenya), Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast)
Watford – Isaac Success (Nigeria), Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)
West Ham – Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo)
Wolves – Romain Saiss (Morocco)
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