The Africa Cup of Nations has already been postponed twice but if it is finally scheduled to get underway in January, up to 40 players from 16 different Premier League clubs could miss their domestic fixtures takes place.

Rumours had begun circulating that the tournament was in doubt due to concerns over the infrastructure in host nation Cameroon. It had already been pushed back, first due to fears that the Cameroonian summer would be too hot and latterly due to the impact of Covid.

With the competition due to take place between 9 January and 6 February in 2022.

That means that from late December, Premier League clubs could be missing a bunch of players.

If, according to reports, they are set to fly out after Boxing Day, they will be in line to miss five gameweeks.

Here is list of team with players who could be missing players if Afcon proceeds as planned:

Arsenal

• Thomas Partey (Ghana)
• Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)
• Pierre Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
• Nicolas Pepe (Ivory Coast)

Aston Villa

• Mahmoud Trezeguet (Egypt)
• Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)
• Marvelous Nakamba (Zimbabwe)

Brentford

• Julian Jeanvier (Guinea)
• Frank Onyeka (Nigeria)
• Tariqe Fosu-Henry (Ghana)

Brighton

• Yves Bissouma (Mali)

Burnley

• Maxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast)

Chelsea

• Edouard Mendy (Senegal)
• Hakim Ziyech (Morocco)

Crystal Palace

• Cheikhou Kouyate (Senegal)
• Jeffrey Schlupp (Ghana)
• Jordan Ayew (Ghana)
• Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast)

Everton

• Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Ivory Coast)
• Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)

Leicester

• Daniel Amartey (Ghana)
• Nampalys Mendy (Senegal)
• Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria)
• Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria)

Liverpool

• Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
• Naby Keita (Guinea)
• Sadio Mane (Senegal)

Manchester City

• Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)

Manchester United

• Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast)
• Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)

Southampton

• Moussa Djenepo (Mali)
• Mohammed Salisu (Ghana)

Watford

• Peter Etebo (Nigeria)
• William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
• Adam Masina (Morocco)
• Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)
• Emmanuel Dennis (Nigeria)

West Ham

• Said Benrahma (Algeria)

Wolves

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

Leeds, Newcastle, Norwich and Tottenham are the only teams without any eligible players.

By Shariat Rabby Sadat

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