List Of 5 Premier League Stars Heading To Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON)

A number of Premier League clubs such as Liverpool FC, Arsenal and Manchester City are set to be without some of the key players who have gone to play in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

AFCON, which was initially scheduled to take place in June-July 2021, was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic and wet weather concerns. It is now set to start this weekend with a bunch of star players such as Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane heading to Cameroon to participate in the tournament.

With the AFCON final due to take place on Feb. 6, a series of Premier League managers are expected to be frustrated right now as they’ll be without their key members for almost a month amid a very crucial point in the 2021-22 season.

Here is a list of five Premier League stars who have left for AFCON:

Mo Salah

Liverpool will massively miss Salah, who has been in the form of his life. The Egypt national has netted 23 goals in 26 matches, including the Reds’ second goal in their latest 2-2 draw with Chelsea. Salah has provided nine assists as well.

Sadio Mane

Jurgen Klopp has a huge challenge ahead of him as he is going to be without two of his regular front three players. The Senegal national has scored 10 goals and an assist in 26 competitive matches for Liverpool this season.

Naby Keita

Keita, who is the captain of the Guinea national team, may not be a regular starter at Liverpool but he has still made 16 appearances for the Reds this season and is one of the core members of Klopp’s current side. The midfielder has netted three goals and an assist for Liverpool.

Riyad Mahrez

Pep Guardiola is going to miss right-winger Mahrez, who has left to represent Algeria at AFCON. While he has made only eight starts in the Premier League, Mahrez has started each of City’s Champions League games and so far has made 25 appearances for the Etihad side, across all competitions. He has scored 13 goals and provided five assists.

Edouard Mendy

The Senegal goalkeeper has featured in 26 out of Chelsea’s 31 games so far this season. While he has conceded 18 goals, he has also kept 12 clean sheets. Chelsea, however, have fallen behind in the title race and it won't be wrong to say that Thomas Tuchel will direly miss Mendy in the next month.