Africa Cup of Nations mascot will wear bulletproof vest as Salah gets armed guards

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Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) organisers are taking no chances following threats of attack by Islamic State terrorists – Mola the Lion will be closely shielded while Liverpool’s Salah and Mane will get gun guards

Premier League stars playing in the Africa Cup of Nations will be protected by security so tight that even the official MASCOT has a ­bullet proof vest.

It’s not only Mola the Lion who is closely shielded. England-based strikers such as Liverpool ’s Mo Salah and Sadio Mane and Man City’s Riyad Mahrez are getting armed guards for the tournament in Cameroon.

Forty Prem stars are in the 24 teams ­taking part in the four-week competition, which kicks off on Sunday.

Curfews have been imposed and ­armoured vehicles will be patrolling the streets to keep fans and players safe.

The footballers will be guarded at their hotels and training bases as well as by regulars soldiers at the stadiums.

There have been 80 bomb attacks in the past year in Cameroon and a five-year-old girl was killed when one was thrown into her classroom.

A civil war where English-speaking rebels have been fighting the French-speaking government has raged for four years, killing 3,500 people and forcing nearly one million people to flee.

Islamic State terrorists control large stretches of territory in the far north. The rebels and IS have both threatened bomb attacks and kidnappings during AFCON, Africa’s version of the Euros.

Organisers are desperate to avoid a ­repeat of the machine gun ambush on the Togo bus carrying Man City striker Emmanuel Adebayor in Angola at the 2010 tournament that left two dead.

Mane and Chelsea ’s keeper Edouard Mendy play for Senegal. Salah, Aston Villa’s Trézéguet and Arsenal ’s Mohamed Elneny are Egypt stars; and Mahrez and West Ham ’s Said Benrahma are teammates for current champions Algeria.

Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang plays for Gabon and Crystal Palace ’s Wilfried Zaha for Ivory Coast. Nigeria’s UK-based stars are Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho and Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi.

A Premier League source said: “The players are worried especially as threats have been made. However they have been ensured everything will be done to protect them with special forces ready to jump into action if there is any real threat or attack.

“A lot of the players come from where there have been security problems, like Nigeria or Ivory Coast, so they are used to it. They are proud to play for their countries so wouldn’t let the people down.”

Senior security commander Engamba Ledoux said: “Measures are being put in place to ensure AFCON goes smoothly.”

Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma and Southampton winger Moussa Djenepo are due to play for Mali in Limbe, in the middle of the conflict zone.

The Foreign Office has advised against nonessential travel to Limbe. The UK Government has warned against going to the far north, which is controlled by IS and their allies Boko Haram.

Human rights researcher Rebecca Tinsley said: “It is a horrible situation. The rebels are serious about attacks.”