It's definitely Kouyate's year. Well done to him and his team mates.

I see that the Napoli owner has come out & said that he doesn't want to consider buying any more African players that wont sign an agreement to not play in AFCON -

Obvious argument that he dosent want to be paying them whilst they are off playing for someone else, he wants them to be available to play for the club that pays their wages - which is understandable enough, especially given the amount of money players are paid & the financial incentive for the clubs to finish higher up their respective leagues -

Clearly there is a response that a player representing his country gets international exposure & in most cases his transfer value increases- but he is also at risk of injury playing in a tournament that dosent directly benefit the club -

Certainly a difficult one for all parties concerned -
I wonder how many other club chairman secretly feel that way about it ?

Any pressure for AFCON to move their tournament to summer months (something they have long been reluctant to do) must have been watered down significantly by the World Cup being moved to the winter this time & the league providing a break in play - AFCON would be empowered to say to the leagues, you can do it for the WC but you cant do it for AFCON.

Any thoughts ?

It does make you wonder if clubs do take AFCON availability & how it will effect the club into account when deciding which is the most suitable player to sign, especially if they have several options.

To address an elephant in the room, you wonder that about us.

Red and Blue Army!