The 2023 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations has been moved from June and July to January and February 2024 because of heavy rain in Ivory Coast during the summer.
Following an Executive Committee meeting in Morocco on Sunday, the Confederation of African Football confirmed that the bi-annual tournament will be moved due to fears of heavy rains in the Ivory Coast, where the tournament will be played, during the summer months, according to journalist Usher Komugisha.
It isn't good news for Liverpool and manager Jurgen Klopp as Mohamed Salah, who recently penned a record-breaking deal at Anfield, could be in Ivory Coast as captain of Egypt, should they qualify. It also means midfielder Naby Keita could be affected due to his international commitments with Guinea.
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During his time on Merseyside, Klopp has become all too familiar with the prospect of losing his keys players during the middle of a season due to AFCON, starting with former forward Sadio Mane departing in January 2017 and most recently experienced when the Senegal international, Salah and Keita all vacated Anfield for up to five weeks during the Reds' gruelling scheduling at the turn of the year.
That particular edition of the tournament had initially been arranged to take place in 2021, however, due to the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic a decision was made to reschedule it for 2022.
Just days after Liverpool's Champions League final defeat in Paris, both Salah and Keita linked up with their respective nations to start their qualifying campaign for the 2023 edition of AFCON. Egypt and Guinea have both been drawn into Group D and are currently sitting level on points.
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