Liverpool could receive a huge boost going forward this season if the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is cancelled.
The African continental tournament, hosted by Cameroon, was initially scheduled to take place in the summer of 2021. However, the global pandemic has seen it being postponed to the start of next year [from January 9th to February 6th].
Earlier reports indicated AFCON could start on January 3rd, which would be a big blow for the Reds.
Jürgen Klopp will be without Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané and midfielder Naby Keïta as the trio will be representing Egypt, Senegal and Guinea respectively at the upcoming tournament.
The Merseyside club may not have to see three of their players leave on international duty. According to RMC Sport, there is ‘uncertainty around the Africa Cup of Nations’ due to the Omicron variant ‘wreaking havoc around the world’.
The report explains what was still a ‘reflection [on cancelling] several weeks ago has become far more a probability in recent days’. It’s even claimed the Confederation of African Football [CAF] ‘could announce the cancellation’ of the tournament in Cameroon.
As per the claims, ‘several national team coaches’ have already discussed the possibility of cancelling the AFCON, but are yet to hear any 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 cancel AFCON, it will come as a massive encouragement for both Klopp and Liverpool.
