Frank Lampard will not have to release Hakim Ziyech midseason for AFCON
According to Football.london, the AFCON 2021 tournament has been postponed. It will not take place before 2022.
This will come as welcome news to Chelsea boss Frank Lampard who would have had to make do without Hakim Ziyech mid-season.
The Moroccan international will join Chelsea this summer from Ajax Amsterdam. A creator with an unmatched vision, he will improve our attack significantly.
Missing out on his abilities in the months of January and February would have been a blow for us. A busy period for the team, Ziyech’s absence could have been telling.
Blues fans need not look too far to understand the adverse effect it could have had. Liverpool were without Sadio Mane in 2017 as the Senegalese was released for the Africa Cup of Nations.
It affected the team adversely as they went on a five-match winless run. Given the competition in the league, we can scarcely afford to have such a length of ineffectiveness.
Ziyech played a key role in the Dutch giants’ run to the UEFA Champions League semifinals in 2018-19. The Blues were given a front-row seat to his ability as he made three assists in the 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.
Ziyech is a player who can make things that others can’t. He has been the top assist-maker in the Eredivisie four times. His eye for a pass should be music to the ears of Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner.
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The move to Chelsea will be the player’s first foray outside the Netherlands. The 27-year-old had so far spent his entire career in the Eredivisie.
Ziyech has made the team of the year three times, also winning the Dutch Player of the Year award in 2018.
