West Ham face AFCON impact

David Moyes is not the only Premier League manager who will have Afcon on his mind over the coming month.

With the delayed 33rd edition of the continental showpiece due to begin in Cameroon on 9 January, planning for the absence of up to 40 players from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Wilfried Zaha during one of the most intense periods of the domestic season will present a major headache for several clubs.

The tournament was switched back to its usual mid-season slot after the 2019 Cup of Nations in Egypt was held for the first time during the European summer, because June and July are part of the rainy season in Cameroon.

After a year’s delay owing to the pandemic it will kick off with the hosts taking on Burkina Faso in Yaoundé.

Leeds, Norwich, Newcastle and  Spurs are the only Premier League clubs who will not be affected, with the rest potentially without key players for up to six League matches and two in the FA Cup.

West Ham are in line to be missing Said Benrahma for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations and potentially Issa Diop for a number of matches.

Diop has yet to make a senior international appearance but is eligible to play for Morocco, Senegal and France, and if he declares for either of the two African countries Diop could receive a call-up for the 2022 tournament.

Arthur Masuaku’s DR Congo failed to qualify for the AFCON tournament.