Initially, the tournament should have taken place in the summer, but it was moved in winter, and has created problems compared to European tournaments.
Among other things, Premier League clubs must do without their African stars for over a month.
For Nigeria's Chukwueze, it is an honour to be part of AFCON, which deserves the same respect as the World Cup and the European Championships.
He told Reuters: "Everyone wants to play in AFCON. It is one of the best tournaments in the world. You have to respect AFCON in the same way that you respect the EM or the World Cup.
"We understand that they have planned it at the wrong time of the year, but when it is important and you are taken off, you have to leave.
"You have no choice, your club can't stop you, and no one should say anything bad about AFCON.
"Yes, they have put it at the wrong time, but to say it's not a good or big tournament is unacceptable."