Every Premier League player called up for AFCON so far including Sadio Mane and Mo Salah - The Mirror

A host of Premier League stars are set to jet off to the Africa Cup of Nations in January, including Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, along with Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy

With 2022 right around the corner, so is the Africa Cup of Nations.

Seemingly the bane of Premier League managers' lives, the tournament will take place January 9 and February 6 in Cameroon, having originally been scheduled to take place alongside Euro 2020 and the Copa America this past summer.

That means the competing stars are guaranteed to miss at least three league matches and a number of cup ties, and their absences could be extended depending on which nations progress to the knockout stages.

Clubs have done their best to delay their key players from departing, but it seems that by Monday, January 4 the Premier League's finest from Africa will be back on their home continent ready to compete.

One of the countries with the most top-flight stars is Senegal, who recently confirmed their squad.

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Liverpool winger Sadio Mane and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy headline the Lions' roster, while Watford star Ismaila Sarr, Crystal Palace's Cheikhou Kouyate and Leicester City midfielder Nampalys Mendy were also picked.

The five will join Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly and former Everton dynamo Idrissa Gueye, now of Paris Saint-Germain.

Mane and Mendy will therefore both miss both legs of their side's respective League Cup semi-finals.

Chelsea are also set to be missing their No.1 goalkeeper for their crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City.

City themselves will be without in-form Riyad Mahrez, who will link up with West Ham United playmaker Said Benrahma on duty for Algeria.

But Liverpool are also set to be hit hard, as Mohamed Salah is nailed on - but still unconfirmed - to lead Egypt.

His absence could prove a huge tipping point in the title race, having netted 15 goals and provided nine assists for Jurgen Klopp's side this season.

Naby Keita, meanwhile, has been named in Guinea's squad.

The Ivory Coast will take plenty of Premier League favourites, such as Manchester United centre-back Eric Bailly, Wolves stalwart Willy Boly, Burnley's Maxwel Cornet, Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace and Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe.

Nigeria boast the most PL call-ups, with Watford duo William Troost Ekong and Emmanuel Dennis joining Leicester pair Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho.

Everton wide man Alex Iwobi and Brentford's Frank Onyeka have also been handed call-ups.

For Morocco, Watford's Adam Masina and Romain Saiss of Wolves are set to be key players, while Mali have Yves Bissouma of Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton speedster Moussa Djenepo in their ranks.

Every Premier League called up to AFCON so far:

Algeria: Said Benrahma, Riyad Mahrez

Guinea: Naby Keita

Ivory Coast: Eric Bailly, Willy Boly, Maxwel Cornet, Wilfried Zaha, Nicolas Pepe.

Mali: Yves Bissouma, Moussa Djenepo

Nigeria: William Troost Ekong, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Emmanuel Dennis, Kelechi Iheanacho

Senegal: Edouard Mendy, Cheikhou Kouyate, Nampalys Mendy, Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr