African Cup of Nations starts this month and Premier League clubs are expected to be without a number of key players throughout the tournament
Mohamed Salah looks down
Mohamed Salah has struggled to make a mark this season(Image: Getty Images)
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FIFA have confirmed the deadline for clubs to release players for this month's Africa Cup of Nations will be December 15. Teams were previously required to send players to their national sides by December 8.
Discussions between key stakeholders have resulted in the pushback, meaning Premier League teams will have the luxury of having their African players for an extra week. FIFA made a similar decision ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
It means that Liverpool will now have Mohamed Salah for their league game against Brighton & Hove Albion. It also means that Manchester United trio Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui won't be released until later this month.
FIFA have said that the delay in the deadline for clubs to release players followed "fruitful consultations led by FIFA with key stakeholders and, thanks to the spirit of solidarity demonstrated by CAF to reduce the impact on various parties."
The decision allows clubs playing in the Champions League to retain any players set to play in AFCON for fixtures next week. Players also competing in the Europa and Conference Leagues will also be available.
Sunderland are facing the prospect of losing seven players to the competition and had looked set to play the first top-flight Tyne-Wear derby without them players. However, they will now have a full selection.
Wolves are set to have five players participate, with Nottingham Forest losing four. Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds United are the only Premier League clubs expected not to be impacted.
The tournament begins on December 21 when hosts Morocco take on Comoros. It runs throughout the end of December and into the new year, with the final taking place on January 18.