Jurgen Klopp faults CAF on moving AFCON to January

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has faulted the decision of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, to move the African Cup of Nation, AFCON, from its June-July period to January.

The next AFCON tournament will be played in January which falls at the moment when the English Premier League and top Leagues in the world are in their mid-season.

According to Klopp, this may make European clubs think twice before signing African players who will likely leave their respective clubs to participate in the AFCON tournament.

'I couldn't respect the African Cup of Nations more than I do because I like the competition', Klopp said.

'But it is an obvious problem that you play a tournament in the middle of the season, The African Cup of Nations going back to January is, for us, a catastrophe.

'It doesn't help African players. We will not sell Sadio, Mo or Naby just because they have a tournament in January and February – of course not – but if you have to make a decision about bringing in a player it is a massive one because before the season you know for four weeks you don't have them.

'That's a normal process and as a club you have to think about these things. It doesn't help the players, for sure. But these decisions are made without asking the players, without asking the managers, without asking anyone. It is just a decision.'