The 2023 Afcon is just days away from kick off and many players who received call-ups have joined their nations' pre-tournament preparations.
United currently have four African players in their first team squad and only two of them have been called up for the competition, namely Sofyan Amrabat of Morocco and Andre Onana of Cameroon, although the latter is only expected to link up with his Indomitable Lions compatriots just hours before their opening clash against Guinea on Monday.
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Meanwhile, Tunisian talent Hannibal Mejbri and Ivorian star Amad Diallo have both been omitted by their respective countries, with the former's exclusion from Afcon coming as a shock to many given that he has featured more prominently this season at Old Trafford.
On 4 January, United confirmed that they had activated an extension clause in Hannibal's contract, extending his deal until June 2024. It is now being reported that the 20-year-old is likely to leave the club on loan until the end of the season.
According to GiveMeSport, the African playmaker now has to decide whether to join Sevilla or fellow Premier League side Everton.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano told the outlet, "Everton are in the race for Hannibal, now it's on the player. He has to decide whether he wants to go to Sevilla, to respect his word and go to the Spanish side. Or if he wants to go to Everton, to stay in the Premier League, to go to a different kind of system, different kind of coach also.
"So Hannibal will take his time to decide and it's also going to be important to see what kind of proposal they will make to Manchester United.
"United want the whole salary covered, but it is also important to see what happens with the buy options. Sevilla wanted a buy option included in the deal, United wanted a buy-back clause.
"So there is a deal to structure and it is not something super imminent, and this is why Hannibal will take his time to decide between Everton and Sevilla."
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