Midfielder Youssef Safri could miss four of City's key Championship matches early next year after Morocco booked their place in the African Nations Cup finals.

Midfielder Youssef Safri could miss four of City's key Championship matches early next year after Morocco booked their place in the African Nations Cup finals.

Morocco became the first team to qualify for the 2008 finals in Ghana after a 1-0 win over Malawi in Group 12 in Blantyre on Saturday.

The 26th staging of the tournament is in Ghana from January 20 to February 10.

Subject to his inclusion in the squad and Morocco's progress in the finals, Safri could miss at least four games during that three-week period.

The Canaries entertain Leicester the day before the tournament begins, and before it ends there is a trip to Southampton, a home game against Preston and the game at Cardiff, plus possible FA Cup involvement.

On Saturday, the Atlas Lions scored the goal after only nine minutes, when Bouchaib al-Moubaraki pounced on a mistake from Malawi goalkeeper Simeon Kapuza.

Morocco coach Mohamed Fakhir will be desperate for his country to improve on their dismal showing at the last African Nations tournament in Egypt last year.

They failed to win a match or score a goal in their group as they finished third behind eventual champions Egypt and runners-up Ivory Coast.