Both the Africa Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup begin next month, with Enzo Maresca’s team being the most affected, with five players certain to be called up.
The most difficult moment of Leicester City’s season may be ahead, with Enzo Maresca’s team expected to be the hardest hit of the promotion hopefuls when the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup begin in a few weeks.
City winger Abdul Fatawu was chosen to Ghana’s preliminary squad for the Afcon this week, and he is one of five players Enzo Maresca might be without for up to six matches beginning in mid-January. That’s more than Ipswich, Leeds, and Southampton put together.
Fatawu joined Chris Hughton’s preliminary team of 55 players and will be a strong contender for the final 23, which must be announced by January 3. Fatawu, who was part of the Black Stars squad at the World Cup last winter, had been out of the picture for most of this calendar year, but was back in the picture for the most recent international break last month, and his improving form means he has a good chance of representing his country in the Ivory Coast.
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He is the only City player whose inclusion in next month’s tournaments is in doubt, with the others being well-established in their respective squads. Only injury will prohibit Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho from representing Nigeria, as will Patson Daka and Zambia. Harry Souttar is also set to be called up to the Australian side for the Asian Cup, which is taking place in Qatar at the same time.
This means that City will be without three of their top six goal scorers for the next month, with Ndidi (seven), Fatawu (seven), and Iheanacho (six) all contributing this term. At least one member of City’s African contingent has scored or assisted on 19 of the club’s 44 Championship goals this season.
The African Cup of Nations begins on January 13, therefore the African quartet’s final Championship match will be against Huddersfield on New Year’s Day. They may be available for the FA Cup encounter at Millwall, but they will be gone by the time City plays Coventry in the M69 derby.
If their countries make it all the way to the final, they will almost certainly miss six Championship games. Following Coventry, City will face promotion rivals Ipswich, Swansea, Stoke, and Watford throughout the four-week tournament, with the home game against Sheffield Wednesday coming too soon for any players who make the final, arriving only two days after the showpiece game.
City’s competitors are not nearly as heavily impacted. Ipswich are expected to lose defender Cameron Burgess, who joins Souttar at the back for Australia, while captain Sam Morsy may depart to join Egypt, but this is not guaranteed. The Tractor Boys had a lift this week when midfielder Massimo Luongo announced his retirement from Australia duty, despite being called up last month, shutting him out of the Asian Cup.
Leeds will not have any players competing in either event, while Southampton will almost certainly lose two to Afcon. Winger Kamaldeen Sulemana is scheduled to travel with Ghana, while Nigeria will be represented by midfielder Joe Aribo.
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