Man Utd push for AFCON delay with Mbeumo & key team-mates set to miss festive fixtures

United attackers Mbeumo and Amad, along with defender Mazraoui, are all set to represent their national teams at the Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off on Sunday, 21 December.

Mazraoui, now fully fit, is expected to feature for host nation Morocco in their opener against Comoros, while Mbeumo and Amad are anticipated to play when Cameroon and Ivory Coast begin their campaigns on 24 December.

Despite this, Amorim has confirmed that the club intends to engage in discussions with the respective football associations in an effort to retain the players for a longer period during the congested holiday fixture list.

With the tournament final scheduled for 18 January, there’s a chance that Mbeumo, Amad, and Mazraoui could be absent for as many as eight league fixtures and an FA Cup third-round match.

Tournament rules require United to release the trio two weeks before their countries’ opening games — Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Morocco — which would mean their departure could coincide with the league clash against Wolves at Molineux on Monday, 8 December.

However, according to BBC, United are hoping to delay their release until after the home fixture against Bournemouth on Monday, 15 December.

Amorim’s squad also faces a trip to Aston Villa on Sunday, 21 December, followed by home games against Newcastle and Wolves on Friday, 26 December, and Tuesday, 30 December, respectively.

United begin their December campaign by hosting West Ham on the fourth.

Speaking ahead of the home encounter with Everton on Monday, Amorim said: “We have the rules for when we have to release the players [but] we are trying to have the players a bit longer.

“It is not just in our hands. We will see. We will try to arrange something with the federations.”

Two years ago, United successfully retained goalkeeper Andre Onana until the eve of Cameroon’s first AFCON match.

As a result, the keeper missed only one fixture — the 4-2 FA Cup win over Newport County on 28 January 2024.

The Everton match marks United’s return to action following the end of the international break.

Before the recent World Cup qualifiers, Amorim’s side had built momentum with a five-match unbeaten run in the league, climbing to seventh in the standings.

Mbeumo has played a pivotal role in that resurgence, netting four goals in games against Liverpool, Brighton, and Tottenham. Amad also found the net in the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on 1 November.

Looking ahead to Everton’s visit to Old Trafford, Amorim urged his players to be at “100 miles per hour” in what he expects to be a “tough game” against David Moyes’ men.

In his pre-match media briefing, Amorim said: “I think everybody is fine, is ready to go. Now it’s about changing the mindset.

Forget a little bit about the national team, focus on our league understanding that we need to start at the first minute, 100 miles an hour to be ready for the game.

“We work today already, we analyse the last game to try to close that chapter. Now we’re preparing for the Everton game. It’s going to be a tough game.”

When asked about the upbeat mood at Carrington following United’s strong form, Amorim added: “Yes, but we need to understand it’s by winning games, so let’s do everything to win games. We know that Old Trafford is going to be in full spirit. They just want us to run, to fight, and then to play good football, so we will try to do that.

“That is the best thing [missing playing at Old Trafford again], because in the recent past it was hard to play at home. But nowadays you miss playing at home, that is a feeling we should have in our club. I’m really excited to be back playing at home and the players also. We need to continue winning at home.”