Huge AFCON news emerges – Jurgen Klopp will likely be relieved
If the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is canceled, Liverpool could benefit greatly this season.
The African continental tournament, to be hosted by Cameroon, was originally scheduled for the summer of 2021. However, due to the global pandemic, it has been pushed back to the beginning of next year [from January 9th to February 6th].
Earlier reports suggested that the AFCON could begin on January 3rd, which would be a major setback for Liverpool.
Jürgen Klopp will be without Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and midfielder Naby Keta for the upcoming tournament, as the trio will be representing Egypt, Senegal, and Guinea, respectively.
Three of the Merseyside club’s players may not have to leave on international duty. According to RMC Sport, there is “uncertainty surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations” because the Omicron variant is “wreaking havoc around the world.”
According to the report, what was once a’reflection [on canceling] several weeks ago has become far more of a probability in recent days.’ It has even been suggested that the Confederation of African Football [CAF] ‘could announce the cancellation’ of the Cameroon tournament.
According to the reports,’several national team coaches’ have already discussed the possibility of canceling the AFCON, but have yet to receive an official decision from the CAF.
RMC Sport further state: ‘Beyond the organisational difficulties linked to Covid-19 and its new variant Omicron, CAF is faced with the discontent of certain clubs, mainly English, who would like to be able to keep the players on British soil in the coming weeks.
‘The African players called up by their selection should thus undergo a quarantine on their return to the United Kingdom, which would therefore deprive the clubs of their players for a longer period. And the country is currently affected by a significant wave of Covid cases.’
If CAF cancels AFCON, it will be a huge boost for both Klopp and Liverpool.
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Huge AFCON news emerges – Jurgen Klopp will likely be relieved
