Which AFCON + Asian Cup players could return for Gameweek 22?

By the end of this week, we’ll know which Premier League players taking part in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the Asian Cup will be in line for a Gameweek 22 return.

That’s because Matchday 3 of both tournaments starts on Monday, with the competing nations contesting their final group stage games.

So, by Thursday evening, we’ll know which countries have been eliminated and which have progressed to the knockout rounds.

Before we summarise what’s at stake, a reminder of how the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) calendar corresponds to the tournaments in Ivory Coast and Qatar:

AFCON + THE ASIAN CUP: CLUB-BY-CLUB GUIDE TO WHO IS AWAY

Here is a club-by-club guide of which Premier League players are representing their nations:

QUALIFICATION: WHAT’S AT STAKE IN MATCHDAY 3

A reminder that, in both tournaments, 16 of the 24 competing teams qualify from the group stage.

The top two in each group advance automatically, while four of the six third placed teams will also progress.

ASIAN CUP

It’s unlikely that Japan or South Korea will exit at the group stage, as they’re both massive odds-on favourites to win their Matchday 3 fixtures.

The two nations could be on a collision course in the round of 16, however: if South Korea win their group, they’ll play the runners-up in Japan’s group.

That match would take place on January 30, so there is a very decent chance that Son Heung-min (£9.7m) and Hwang Hee-chan (£5.6m) could be back in Gameweek 23 (February 3/4) if they are eliminated then.

AFCON

Mohamed Salah (£13.1m) may not kick another ball at AFCON because of injury, although he could return for the final if Egypt get that far.

They first have to get out of the group stage, however. A win over already qualified Cape Verde guarantees 2nd spot in their group, while a draw would be enough to finish 3rd.

The bookies make them roughly 86.5% to qualify for the round of 16, so it looks probable.

Finishing as runners-up would likely see them play Zambia or DR Congo in the round of 16, two nations that feature well outside the top 10 favourites for the entire competition.

Of the African nations listed above, it’s Tunisia who are the likeliest to bow out early (circa 40% chance of qualification): only a win will do for them against South Africa.

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