Salah, Mane & Keita to be available vs Chelsea after clubs allowed to release players for AFCON on January 3

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita will be available for the game against Chelsea in a week's time after the Premier League clubs were allowed to release their players to the Africa Cup of Nations squads until January 3.

The Associated Press quotes a letter from FIFA deputy secretary general Mattias Grafstrom confirming the decision.

"CAF [the Confederation of African Football] has decided that for those players who have official club matches between the 27 December 2021 and 3 January 2022, the participating member associations in question are to be directed that these players may remain with their clubs to participate in these matches and be released after the last match during this period," the letter reads.

According to FIFA regulations, Liverpool would have to release their stars to the AFCON this Monday. However, Grafstrom hails the 'commitment of solidarity' between the stakeholders.

it also means, however, that Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy will also be available for the clash at Stamford Bridge that is scheduled for January 2.

Source: Associated Press