AFCON latest development, a disaster for Liverpool

The Confederation of Africa Football CAF has announced January 9th to February 6th as the new date for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON. The last edition of the tournament was played in the summer of 2019 which is at advantage to most of the European clubs parading Africans as the major components of their teams.

The next AFCON is going to be a big disaster to Liverpool as they stand to be without four of their key players in Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Joel Matip and Naby Keita for a period of almost one month.
The four Africans have been instrumental to the success of Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and are also keen to becoming the English Premier League Champions after 29 years. The Reds are currently topping the League table and are 14 points clear on the log with a game at hand.

Thoug Liverpool can survive without Naby Keita and Joel Matip but may not be able thrive without Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, this will be a big headache for the Reds boss in 2021. The club may have to start preparing for how they will get replacements for the four players.

Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Joel Matip and Naby Keita will be representing Senegal, Egypt, Cameroon and Guinea respectively, subject to their qualification for the tournament in Cameroon.

2021 AFCON was scheduled to hold between June and July 2021, but the news on January 15 says the tournament will now hold between 9th January to 6th February in Cameroon.

By Oladele Emmanuel