AFCON 2025: Which Premier League clubs are set to miss the highest number of players during tournament and what games could they miss?
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By Ben Grounds
Published 25/11/2025 at 11:54 GMT
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A total of 46 Premier League players could be missing for up to a month of action due to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), taking place in Morocco between December 21 and January 18. Liverpool are set to be without Mohamed Salah as he joins up with Egypt, while Manchester United will be missing Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) and Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast).
Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United
Image credit: Getty Images
With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations arriving in the heart of the Premier League's busiest stretch, squad depth could be tested.
For some clubs, the coming month promises to be a mere inconvenience; for others, it could define their season.
The 35th edition of the biennial AFCON tournament arrives earlier than usual this campaign, and the ripple effects across the Premier League are set to be significant.
With up to 17 clubs facing absences as players depart for Morocco, the timing of the tournament - December 21 to January 18 - means managers will have to navigate one of the most congested periods of the domestic calendar while shorthanded.
The exact date on which clubs must release their players remains unconfirmed and may vary depending on individual agreements.
But the impact is clear: a player reaching the final could miss as many as six or seven league matches, in addition to FA Cup and Carabao Cup fixtures. Those knocked out early - with the group stage concluding on December 31 - may return after missing only a handful of games.
Not every side will feel the disruption equally. Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds are among the few entirely unaffected, while Sunderland and Wolves face the heaviest hit.
Which Premier League players could feature at AFCON?
Aston Villa
Villa will lose only Ivory Coast forward Evann Guessand. Given he has started just five league matches - and made a further five appearances off the bench - the club will likely feel they can manage without him.
Bournemouth
Attacking midfielder Amine Adli is expected to represent Morocco, though he has made only one Premier League start and eight substitute appearances. The Cherries will be relieved that Antoine Semenyo's Ghana failed to qualify.
| December and January PL fixtures | |
| December 20-22 | Premier League Matchday 17 |
| December 26-28 | Premier League Matchday 18 |
| December 30-January 1 | Premier League Matchday 19 |
| January 3-4 | Premier League Matchday 20 |
| January 6-8 | Premier League Matchday 21 |
| January 17-19 | Premier League Matchday 22 |
Brentford
Brentford will see £42m club-record signing Dango Ouattara join Burkina Faso, while midfielder Frank Onyeka links up with Nigeria. Only Ouattara has been a regular under manager Keith Andrews.
Brighton
Brighton will be without key Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba, almost ever-present this season. Gambia's failure to qualify means winger Yankuba Minteh remains available.
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Carlos Baleba is heading to AFCON 2025 with Cameroon
Image credit: Getty Images
Burnley
Burnley face one of the larger exoduses, with Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa) and Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia) all expected to depart.
Crystal Palace
Ismaila Sarr's absence is a major blow to Palace, with the Senegal winger delivering three Premier League goals so far this season. Three others - Christantus Uche (Nigeria), Chadi Riad (Morocco) and Cheick Doucoure (Mali) - could also go, depending on fitness and selection. Whoever departs will miss the club's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Arsenal on December 23.
Everton
Everton lose two central players from David Moyes' starting XI: Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye, both bound for Senegal. Gueye is now serving a three-match ban which rules him out of games against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.
The midfielder would then in theory be available for the visit to Chelsea on December 13, before Senegal's first group game against Botswana on December 23.
Adam Aznou could depart for Morocco, though he has not been in a recent squad. Guinea-Bissau international Beto stays put after his nation failed to qualify.
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Everton will be without Senegal international Iliman Ndiaye
Image credit: Getty Images
Fulham
Fulham will see a trio of players called up by Nigeria: Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze. The first two have been ever-present in the league.
Liverpool
Liverpool lose just one player, but it's a big one: Mohamed Salah, who will lead Egypt again after a subdued domestic season so far, scoring just four goals in 12 league games.
Manchester City
City’s absences - Egypt’s Omar Marmoush and Algeria's Rayan Ait-Nouri - are softened by the fact neither has featured heavily this season due to injuries.
Manchester United
United's right flank will be transformed over the festive period, with Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) all leaving for international duty.
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Bryan Mbeumo will be absent for Manchester Utd
Image credit: Getty Images
Newcastle
The only possible departure is £55 million summer signing and DR Congo international Yoane Wissa, who is yet to make his debut after joining from Brentford following a knee injury.
Nottingham Forest
Forest could lose anywhere from one to four players. Ibrahim Sangare is certain to join Ivory Coast, while Willy Boly is a possibility. Nigeria internationals Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi are less likely due to long-term injuries and limited recent involvement.
Sunderland
The Premier League's surprise package will be hit the hardest, losing seven players across six national teams. Most have been regular contributors, making their absence a significant challenge.
Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Habib Diarra (Senegal), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast), Arthur Masuaku and Noah Sadiki (DR Congo) and Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso) have collectively made over 50 top-flight appearances this term.
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Reinildo is one of seven Sunderland players set to travel to Morocco
Image credit: Getty Images
Tottenham
Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal) is the likeliest departure, while Yves Bissouma (Mali) could travel if fit after ankle surgery. Spurs benefit from Ghana's failure to qualify, keeping Mohammed Kudus available.
West Ham
West Ham will have to replace both starting full-backs, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo) and El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal) heading to Morocco.
Wolves
Winless Wolves face a daunting month, losing Marshall Munetsi and Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast), Tolu Arokodare (Nigeria) and Jackson Tchatchoua (Cameroon). All but Chirewa have been regulars.
Which AFCON Nations are most represented in the Premier League?
Out of the 24 nations competing at the Africa Cup of Nations, 15 have at least one representative playing in the Premier League - underscoring the competition's deep connection to English football.
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Nigeria will be the most represented by the Premier League - including Fulham's Alex Iwobi
Image credit: Getty Images
The spread of talent highlights both the Premier League's reach across the African continent and the breadth of quality on display at this year's tournament.
Nigeria leads the way as the most represented nation, with nine Premier League players eligible for the Super Eagles. Close behind are Ivory Coast and Senegal, each boasting six top-flight players.
DR Congo follows with five, while Cameroon contributes three Premier League footballers to its national squad.
A handful of countries have a lighter Premier League footprint this time around, with Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa and Mozambique each represented by a single player.
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