MERRY CHRISTMAS AFCON

Struggling for something to do over the festive period? Sit back and enjoy the world's most chaotic tournament as Africa's finest vie for continental glory

- Chris Flanagan

Two things are pretty much certain with the Africa Cup of Nations these days - whatever the original plan was, the tournament will end up taking place in a different country and at a completely different time of year.

Ivory Coast was initially due to host the 2021 tournament but staged the 2023 event instead, which was moved to January and February 2024 to avoid the summer rainy season. The 2025 AFCON was originally supposed to take place in Guinea in June and July - they weren't going to be ready in time, so it was switched to Morocco and then rescheduled to... Christmas?!

At least it starts in the right year on this occasion - the tournament was moved from the summer to avoid a clash with FIFA's expanded Club World Cup, and runs from December 21 to January 18, finished in time for the resumption of the Champions League, two days after the final.

The bad news is that it means Mo Salah, Bryan Mbeumo & Co have been scheduled to disappear from the Premier League for the best part of a month - Sunderland could lose as many as seven players.