After a one-year delay, the Africa Cup of Nations is about to kick off this month. The continent's most important event is held in Cameroon and will feature a number of giants. While the tournament is seen as a joy for the players, not everyone in football is happy.
In fact, more than one manager has expressed his frustration as their team will lose many key players during this period. As FIFA does not channel the tight schedule, the club has reason to feel unfair and aggrieved, although some teams have more bitter water than others.
So which teams have been most affected, and how has Africa influenced the five major leagues?
Teams at both ends are having problems
The player who contributed the most to the Africa Cup of Nations, or the player who led to the most absences, was in the Premier League. Only four teams – Tottenham, Newcastle, Norwich and Leeds United – have no players in this event. This is good news for them for two reasons:
Conte's team aims to return to the top four or six, and having a full squad is a plus for him. The other three teams are mired in relegation and cannot afford to lose their players.
The teams most affected are Watford and Liverpool. Although the Hornets have the initiative in relegation, four from Sal (Senegal), Lothar (Morocco), Echoon (Nigeria) and Massina (Morocco) will leave the team. Although Dennis stayed in the team, the strength of the team still declined a lot.
Watford's 23 per cent of league goals come from Sal, whose absence will affect the team's attacking power. Econ and Massina are the main defenders, and the weak defensive line will undoubtedly be worse.
Reds boss Klopp is also critical of this. Liverpool are currently 11 points behind Manchester City, a gap that could widen in January. Because salah and Mane, the two top scorers in the team, will both play in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah is the Premier League's top scorer and has contributed 26 goals and nine assists, while Mane has contributed eight goals and one assist, and the absence of the duo will be a huge loss. In addition, Keita will also leave the team. In the top four of the Premier League, only Liverpool have lost the most key players.
Other teams in the Premier League
Arsenal are missing former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, midfielder Thomas, Ernenni, winger Pepe and youngster Requique. Despite the numbers, only Thomas is the main player in the first team, Oba disappeared from the first team after being stripped of the captain's armband, Ernenni and Pepe are the team's marginal players, and Rekyk is a youth player.
City will lose Mahrez, their city rivals will lose Bailey and Hannibal Mebry, while Chelsea will lose Mendy. None of these players are absolutely irreplaceable, even if some of them are solid players. City have plenty of options on the right, while Bailly is the third option after Varane's return, so it has not been much affected.
Tuchel has the world's most expensive goalkeeper in his hands to replace Mendy in the future, and Kepa has saved the team twice this season on penalties.
Another team that has lost its starter is Crystal Palace. Zaha, Ayyut and Cuiat are all key players under Vieira. The Eagles' days will be tougher, and new signings Eduardo will have more opportunities.
The unstable Leicester City will lose four of Namparris Mendy, Ndidi, Ishinacho and Amaté. Coupled with injuries and outbreaks, Rogers' team faces an even bigger crisis.
Other teams in the five major leagues
AC Milan will lose two midfielders, Casey and Benacell, and Napoli will be short of Koulibaly and Angusa. That's good news for defending champions Inter.
Greater Paris will lose Ashraf, nice will lose Attal and Lemina. La Liga will lose players such as Bunu, Ennesri and Munir.
There are not many players in the Bundesliga who participate in the Africa Cup of Nations. Representative figures are Borussia Moncheng's Benseyni, Hoffenheim's Samasaiko, Leipzig's Amado haydala, Berlin's Union's Avoni and Bayern's Sal.