Premier League Clubs Brace for AFCON Absences Over Festive Period
Premier League sides are preparing for the most intense spell of the season over the festive period, but many teams will be depleted by the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The tournament, hosted by Morocco from December 21 to January 18, means clubs could lose their African stars for up to six league matches plus the FA Cup third round, forcing managers to adjust squads during one of the busiest periods in English football
Key Players Called Up to AFCON
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is the marquee name heading to Morocco. His absence, however, may have less impact than in previous tournaments, as Salah hinted that last weekend’s victory over Brighton could have been his last appearance for the Reds following an outburst targeting manager Arne Slot.
Salah has not started in Liverpool’s last five matches, though he featured during the Brighton game and received a hero’s reception at Anfield. He joins Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush as Egypt aims to win the tournament for the first time since 2010.
Other notable Premier League representatives include:
- Bryan Mbeumo – spearheading Cameroon’s quest for a sixth AFCON title
- Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye – missing for Crystal Palace and Everton (Senegal)
- Antoine Semenyo – Bournemouth’s top-scoring African player, unaffected as Ghana did not qualify
Clubs Most Affected by AFCON Absences
Some teams face significant squad disruption during this period:
- Sunderland – the Black Cats, unbeaten at the Stadium of Light, will lose Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso), Reinildo (Mozambique), Habib Diarra (Senegal), and Arthur Masuaku & Noah Sadiki (DR Congo). Sunderland’s absences could impact the title race, especially as they host Manchester City on January 1.
- Manchester United – Ruben Amorim will lose Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco), affecting the right side of their attack.
- Fulham – will be without Nigerian trio Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze.
Clubs Least Affected
Despite the early AFCON start, which overlaps with Christmas and New Year fixtures, several clubs remain largely unaffected:
- Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Leeds, and Newcastle will lose no players.
- Manchester City – Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri have only made two Premier League starts each this season.
- Liverpool – only Salah is absent.
- Tottenham Hotspur – Mali’s Yves Bissouma has yet to feature under Thomas Frank.
Festive Fixture Implications
The absence of key African stars will test squad depth across the Premier League, offering opportunities for fringe players to impress. For teams like Arsenal and Chelsea, the impact is minimal, while clubs such as Sunderland, Manchester United, and Fulham must adapt to maintain form during the congested festive calendar.