The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations will start on 9 January after its dates were moved, hosts Cameroon have announced.
The tournament was scheduled to take place in June and July but was changed because of the “unfavourable” weather in the country at that time of year.
It means a number of Premier League clubs could be without first-team players at a crucial stage of the season.
The 2019 tournament in Egypt was the first one to be held in the summer.
Before that, the Cup of Nations had been held in January and February, clashing with the European domestic season.
The change back to a January start means that the tournament will not clash with the expanded Club World Cup, being held in China in June 2021.
Following a meeting on Wednesday with representatives from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), including President Ahmad, the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) tweeted: “It [2021 Africa Cup of Nations] will be played in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February, 2021. Date changed for weather reasons at Cameroon’s request.”
