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Follow UsThe start of the year 2022 and the close of the year 2021 were highlighted by a push and pull over the timing of the 2021 AFCON finals from January 9 – 6 February. Most of the resistance regarding this timing came from the Premier League.
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Some clubs went to the extent of trying to hold on to their key players at the expense of their national teams and it took FIFA's intervention to see them released for the tournament. At the end of the tournament, it is clear why there was this resistance.
With the dust settling on the 33rd edition of the AFCON competition, a number of the top moments at the competition were served by Premier League players and it is no wonder in the official team of the tournament released by CAF, five of the 11 players are drawn from Premier League clubs.
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It is worth noting that 34 players contracted to Premier League clubs were drafted to play in the tournament by their various national teams and among the 11 named in the team of the tournament, five played in the final as Senegal beat Egypt on post match penalties to win their maiden AFCON title.
The AFCON team of the Tournament has: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Mohamed Abdelmonem, Edmund Tapsoba, Saliou Ciss, Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City), Blaty Toure, Mo Salah (Liverpool), Vincent Aboubakar, Sadio Mane (Liverpool).
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Edouard Mendy's inclusion is not at all a surprise and makes up for his miss in 2019 final as he nursed an injury. His start to this competition was also not the smoothest, as he had to sit out the opening two matches having tested positive for Covid 19. In the five matches that Mendy featured in, Senegal only conceded two goals and he was crucial in the final too, with his penalty save that placed Senegal at an advantage against Egypt.
Mohamed Elneny was another star performer at the competition and also stood out among the Premier League players who turned out for their nations. The 29-year old played all seven matches at the tournament as his team coasted to the final. Clocking 704 minutes, the midfielder was a cog in the team's central department but was subbed twice.
Read Also: AFCON 2021: Senegal wins their maiden title
Elneny hasn't been a regular starter at Arsenal and as his contract draws to a close, maybe he just made it clear to potential suitors just what he can do if given game time.
One big breakout star of the tournament has to be Nampalys Mendy. Rarely used by Leicester City, the midfielder made five starts for Senegal and was rock solid in midfield. He may just have given Brendan Rodgers a reason to trust him more, at a time his team is really struggling to match previous standards. Leicester have done poorly in defence this season and it is unimaginable that Mendy hasn't featured in the Premier League so far, though injuries have also played a part.
From the foregoing at AFCON, Premier League fans have a reason to look forward to more entertaining times, apart from the list of online bookmakers on Wincomparator, which offer some of the best welcome bonuses for signing up. Top among them is 1XBet with an offer of up to $130, ShangriLa's offer of up to €100, 22Bet's €122 and Betsson's €125.
Liverpool's Mo Salah was indeed a key man for Egypt, even though the tournament didn't end too well for him. His wait for an AFCON title will go on for a little longer after Egypt's loss to Cameroon.
While Salah finished the tournament in tears, his team mate at Liverpool, Sadio Mane was celebrating after dispatching the winning spot-kick on a night that he had also missed one in regular time.