2021 Afcon Qualifiers: Crystal Palace Caution Ghana FA Over Jordan Ayew And Jeffrey Schlupp

Crystal Palace boss, Roy Hodgson has expressed his frustration with African players leaving for the 2021 African Cup of Nations [Afcon] qualifiers.

Jordan Ayew, Jeffrey Schlupp and Wilfried Zaha will join their respective countries for the qualifiers.

In the last international break, Jordan Ayew after retuning to England tested positive for Covid-19 after featuring in Ghana's friendly games against Mali and Qatar in Turkey.

However, speaking ahead of this month’s international games, Hodgson asked the host countries to take care of his players and protect them from the coronavirus pandemic.

"I am a little bit disappointed that players are going to go as far as Africa to play matches," the Palace manager admitted.

"I don’t know that in this COVID world and environment in which we live, it is great news to be sending your players to places like Sudan and Mauritius.

"But it is something that we probably have to do, but I am just hoping this time the countries that they go and play for will look after them well because the last time we lost Jordan Ayew for two weeks," he said at post-match.

Jordan Ayew scored his first goal of the season in Crystal Palace’s 4-1win over Leeds United on Saturday, November 7, 2020.

Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlupp will feature in the Black Stars doubleheader game against Sudan for the 2022 Afcon qualifier at the Cape Coast Stadium before playing Sudan in Khartoum in five days time.