Despite a mountain of uncertainty and having been postponed twice previously, the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is now finally in sight, with a number of Premier League stars set for a potentially lengthy absence.
The 33rd edition of the tournament gets underway on January 9, with host nation Cameroon kicking it off against Burkina Faso, before it draws to a close on Sunday, February 6. The earliest possible release date for any nation is January 20, when the groups come to an end.
In what will be a difficult year for Premier League clubs to navigate, they received a timely boost last week as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ruled players can stay with their domestic sides until January 3.