Premier League teams have officially lost a number of key players to the Africa Cup of Nations, which gets underway this weekend.
Host nation Morocco will open Africa’s premier football tournament on Sunday evening.
PSG star Achraf Hakimi, Manchester United defender Noussair Mazrouai, and Sunderland’s Chemsdine Talbi are all part of the North African nation’s squad.
Premier League players are set to remain absent until 2026 at the earliest. The group stages wrap up on December 31, with knockout action beginning on January 3.
For players who reach the Round of 16, their earliest opportunity to return to Premier League action will come on January 17.
The final is set to take place at the stunning Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on January 18.
Which clubs are most affected by AFCON?
Sunderland are the hardest hit in pure numbers, losing players across defence, midfield and wide areas during a demanding run of fixtures.
Fulham also face a testing period without three near ever-present starters, while Everton’s situation is more structural, with both Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye departing simultaneously.
Marco Silva’s side will embark on a critical run of fixtures that will determine whether or not they’re dragged into a relegation dogfight.
Burnley’s losses are less headline-grabbing but significant for a side already stretched for depth, particularly in attack.
Even Brentford, who were going well under Keith Andrews and currently sit on 20 points, may be worried. The absence of Dango Outtara is a big one. The Bees have been trending downward lately.
Leeds United fans will be happy they picked up midfield alternatives to Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra, given their precarious position. They could look to capitalise.
Manchester United‘s attacking revival has been spearheaded by Bryan Mbuemo. Their struggling defence may find life hard against Aston Villa, Leeds and Newcastle.
Image credit: Jeanpierrekepseu, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Key Premier League fixtures shaped by AFCON
AFCON arrives during a stretch of fixtures that could influence both the title race and the relegation picture.
Arsenal vs Liverpool remains a headline fixture, with Liverpool set to be without Mohamed Salah. Arsenal avoid disruption from AFCON call-ups, while Liverpool prepare for an unfamiliar night without Mohamed Salah.
Sunderland vs Manchester City highlights the uneven impact of the tournament. Sunderland are among the worst-affected clubs, while City’s absences are squad options.
Consecutive fixtures against West Ham and Nottingham Forest could determine if Fulham join the relegation scrap. Likewise, the absence of West Ham’s fullbacks will make life tough against Brighton and Man City.
West Ham will also face off against Forest during AFCON. Defeat against Nuno’s former club could be the first real nail in their coffin.
Which Premier League players are going to AFCON?
Brighton & Hove Albion
- Carlos Baleba (Cameroon)
Brentford
- Frank Onyeka (Nigeria)
- Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso)
Burnley
- Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo)
- Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia)
- Lyle Foster (South Africa)
Crystal Palace
- Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal)
Everton
- Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal)
- Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal)
Fulham
- Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria)
- Calvin Bassey (Nigeria)
- Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)
Liverpool
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Manchester City
- Rayan Aït-Nouri (Algeria)
- Omar Marmoush (Egypt)
Manchester United
- Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco)
- Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)
- Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
Nottingham Forest
- Willy Boly (Ivory Coast)
- Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast)
Sunderland
- Habib Diarra (Senegal)
- Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo)
- Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco)
- Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso)
- Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique)
- Noah Sadiki (DR Congo)
Tottenham Hotspur
- Yves Bissouma (Mali)
- Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)
West Ham United
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)
- El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe)
- Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast)
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