The latest edition of the African Cup of Nations which kicks off in few days will see several African players in Europe taking part in the tournament, leaving their clubs for a period of time and missing matches as the tournament takes place in cote di voir.
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The competition features a host of eye-catching Premier League names, with Liverpool fans keeping a close eye on Egypt’s progress following talisman Mohamed Salah’s call-up for The Pharaohs.
In respect to this, let’s look at players which are key to their teams. These players will miss matches in their respective clubs just as the tournament goes on. Let’s look at few of them.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool):
Mohamed Salah has jetted off to the Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving Liverpool without their best player.
Salah has 14 goals and eight assists in 20 Premier League games this season, averaging a goal involvement every 79 minutes that is to say that Salah is one of the key players of Liverpool, he has been in his best form since the start of the season.
He will be a big miss for Jurgen Klopp and his side, having shown just how influential he is by scoring twice and assisting another in the 4-2 win over Newcastle on New Year’s Day.
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Mohamed is set to miss eight Liverpool matches across three competitions while he tries to avenge Egypt’s heartbreak at the Africa Cup of Nations this month.
Klopp knows better than anyone just how good Salah is. “Mo is a goalscoring machine,” he commented after the Newcastle win, which moved Liverpool three points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Salah could miss eight games for Liverpool if Egypt reach the final of AFCON, which runs from January 13 to February 11.
They include this weekend’s FA Cup third-round game against Arsenal, Premier League games against Bournemouth which an away game on January 21, Chelsea which is a home game on January 31, Arsenal also a home game on February 4 and Burnley a home game as well on February 10, as well as both legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Fulham on January 10 and 24 and, possibly, the fourth round match in the FA Cup.
Salah is really hoping to avenge Egypt’s heartbreaking defeat by Senegal on penalties in the final in February 2022.
This time around the Pharaohs are in Group B with Ghana, Cape Verde and Mozambique and Salah is clear about his intentions. He will be absent as klopp’s side battle for the front four this year.
Victor osimhen (Napoli):
The Super Eagles star is another figure that has been a vital cog for Walter Mazzarri’s side and his absence will be felt at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
The Super Eagles star will be in Ivory Coast for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and will miss some crucial games for the Italian club.
Nigeria will play three group games from January 14 being tomorrow to 22. Osimhen already missed Napoli’s game against Torino on Sunday as he was already called up by his country for international duty.
Napoli sorely missed Osimhen’s hard work and services as they suffered a heavy 3-0 loss to Torino over the weekend.
Osimhen will also miss his club’s upcoming matches against Salernitana in Serie A and Fiorentina in the Supercoppa Italiana because of the AFCON.
Osimhen will miss three more games for Napoli if he manages to lead Nigeria to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations.
He is optimistic that the super eagles will go far as much as lifting the trophy. He will miss their Serie A matches against Lazio on January 28, Verona on February 4, and AC Milan on February 11.
Achraf Hakimi (PSG):
Paris Saint Germain (PSG) is concerned about the absence of Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi as he prepares to play for Morocco later this month at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
As Morocco’s Atlas Lions are set to start preparations for the continental tournament, which will kicked off in Cote d’Ivoire today. PSG is projected to be without its Moroccan right-back for a month.
Hakimi is one of Morocco’s most important players, having participated with the national team in grand football competitions, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar which they set a record that is yet to be broken by any African team. They became the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the world cup.
Currently, Moroccan star Hakimi is temporarily replaced by his French teammate Nordi Mukiele, amidst multiple reports indicating Mukiele’s imminent transfer to Germany’s Bayern Munich in the current winter transfer window.
It is worth noting that the Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi has featured in 21 matches for Paris Saint-Germain this season, scoring four goals and contributing with four assists for Paris.
The situation of Hakimi answering a call for international duty poses a challenge for PSG as they navigate through the domestic and European competitions, with Hakimi’s absence leaving a void that Enrique is keen to address promptly.
The choice of a suitable replacement will be crucial to maintaining the team’s competitive edge in various upcoming fixtures.
And so many other players who left their various European clubs for the international duty.
The likes of Sabatien Haller of Borrusia Dortmund, Y. En-Nesyri of Sevilla, Kelechi iheanacho of Liecester city, Ayew of crystal palace, Mohamed kudus of Westham united. And all whole lot of them.
Their various teams are going to miss them and their contributions to their teams.
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