Tottenham Hotspur head coach Jose Mourinho could be without the services of Serge Aurier for over a month next January.
The Africa Cup of Nations which took place last summer will revert back to being held in January from next year (BBC).
The decision to scrap the summer date for the competition was said to be down to unfavourable weather in the host country of Cameroon at that time of year.
Aurier is the captain of the Ivory Coast and has racked up 60 international caps for his country (transfermarkt).
The 27-year-old is Tottenham’s first-choice right-back after Kieran Trippier was sold to Atletico Madrid during the summer while Kyle-Walker Peters was sent on loan to Southampton in the January transfer window.
The Ivory Coast are yet to qualify for the tournament and sit in second place in Group D behind Morocco, yet are still expected to qualify.
Depending on how well the Ivorian’s perform in the competition, it could mean that Aurier is away from North London for over a month.
The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations will start on 9 January and the final will be held on 6 February (Guardian).
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Thats the best news I’ve heard in ages.
I just scrolled all the way down to celebrate but you beat me too it
Amazing that a captain (and presumably a rallier) of his national team, the Ivory Coast, is such a loose cannon in North London.