The African Cup of Nations is still set to go ahead as planned next month, Sportsmail has been told, despite reports this morning suggesting the tournament would be scrapped with the Omicron coronavirus variant spreading rapidly worldwide.
It was claimed by RMC Sport in France that the Central African Federation (CAF) may have been forced to can the showpiece, which will be held in Cameroon and is due to start on January 9 and run until February 6.
But the organisers are adamant that the AFCON will take place, with just weeks left until the first game - meaning that a host of Premier League players, including Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, are set to leave their clubs mid-season.