PL manager who could lose up to four key players backs AFCON 2022

A Premier League manager has backed the 2022 AFCON to go on despite calls by fellow managers and other stakeholders for tournament to be postponed.

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has made his stance clear on how the ‘little tournament’ should not be allowed to hold.

Recently, a Napoli lawyer has threatened countries could be taken to court should they invite their players.

The COVID-19 variant Omicron has been cited by many as to why the tournament should not go onto.

But Samuel Eto’o the FA president of the host country has blasted those calling for AFCON to be cancelled when they hosted the EUROS with packed stadium when COVID-19 cases were still very high.

And Crystal Palace manager, Patrick Vieira, has also come out im support of the tournament saying he will not stop his players from participating at the tournament.

Patrick Vieira could be without a couple of his star players such as Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast), Cheikhou Kouyate (Senegal), Jeffrey Schlupp and Jordan Ayew (both Ghana).

But Vieira who was a key member of the France team when they won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro in 2000 says AFCON is as important as the Euro.

And he is asking that the tournament be respected.

“I respect and I understand the passion and importance of those players to go and represent their country,” Vieira said on Palace’s official website.

“I will never stop any players going to the Africa Cup of Nations. I believe that competition has to be more respected because this competition is as important as the European Championship.”