Crystal Palace Boss Worried About Ghanaian Duo Trip To South Africa For 2021 AFCON Qualifier

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson is worried about his players Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlupp travelling with the Black Stars to South Africa for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

South Africa is among a list of countries that have been barred by the UK due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ghanaian duo will not be able to travel to the UK after the game should they make the trip.

A move many Premier League coaches are unhappy about releasing their players ahead of the international break later this month.

Hodgson is urging the Ghana FA to seek a neutral venue for the game to be played outside South Africa which comes off on March 25.

"I don’t think we have much choice," Hodgson said when asked if he would permit or limit travel, his club's official website reports.

"I don’t think the [UK] Government will allow travel to South Africa. So I don’t understand if South Africa is on a banned list how we can happily allow our players to go. It’s out of our hands, to be honest.

"As far as others are concerned, I understand my colleagues’ [other managers] concern over players going to play for the national team when others [require] quarantine.

"I only hope the Premier League will assure us that when players return to the bubble they’ve left from a bubble with their national team, they won’t be punished by not being able to train or play. That would be very, very harsh."

Other Ghanaian players in the UK such as Arsenal's Thomas Partey,  Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey, Southampton centre-back Mohammed Salisu, Reading fullback Andy Yiadom and Brentford winger Tariqe Fosu will all be barred from returning to their clubs in England should they join Ghana to South Africa.