The timing of the Africa Cup of Nations means it disrupts Premier League football more than any other international competition.
The absence of players like Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush could have a significant impact on Premier League outright betting.
It’s not just at the top where managers are left short-staffed. Teams up and down the league are missing key members of their first-team squad for several weeks.
Premier League clubs must release players in AFCON squads on Dec. 15. Their return date will depend on how far their country progresses – the final is scheduled to be played on Jan. 18 in Rabat.
Teams Missing Players For AFCON
Aston Villa
Evann Guessand, who has made six league starts and five substitute appearances, has been included in the Ivory Coast’s squad. Guessand has only goal contribution in 512 Premier League minutes.
Bournemouth
Ghana failing to qualify has done Bournemouth a favour by keeping Antoine Semenyo with the club. Amine Adli is expected to be in Morocco’s squad – he has 16 international caps.
Brentford
Frank Onyeka and Dango Ouattara will be called up by Nigeria and Burkina Faso, respectively. Onyeka has had a limited role this season, but Ouattara has made 11 Premier League starts.
Brighton
Losing Carlos Baleba hurts, and it will hurt that much more if Cameroon go on a deep run. Brighton can at least take some solace from the fact Yankuba Minteh’s Gambia didn’t quality.
Crystal Palace
Chadi Riad, Ismaïla Sarr, Cheick Doucouré, and Christantus Uche are likely to be called up by their respective nations.
Sarr’s ankle injury could prevent his involvement, but it will still mean he misses several of Crystal Palace’s festive fixtures.
Everton
Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye, and Adam Aznou are due to be called up for AFCON. Ndiaye and Gueye are regulars for Senegal, while Aznou should be in the squad of host nation Morocco.
Everton are third in the proportion of minutes and goal involvements from African players.
Fulham
Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze are all heading to AFCON. The trio will be starting for Nigeria. Iwobi and Chukwueze have combined for nine Premier League goal involvements.
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah heading to AFCON might be a positive for Liverpool after his explosive interview after being left out of the starting XI to face Leeds. The Egyptian is reportedly looking to leave Anfield.
Manchester City
Omar Marmoush is accompanying Salah in the Egypt squad. Largely used off the bench this term, Pep Guardiola should be fine without Marmoush for a few weeks.
Manchester United
Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazroaoui, and Amad Diallo are representing Cameroon, Morocco, and Ivory Coast, respectively. United are losing their top goal scorer and their top two players in expected assists.
Nottingham Forest
Ola Aina, Willy Boly, Ibrahim Sangare, and Taiwo Awoniyi. Facing the second-toughest run of fixtures during the tournament, Forest will be desperate to have Sangare back as soon as possible.
Sunderland
No team will be hit harder by AFCON. African players have accounted for over 30% of Sunderland’s Premier League minutes this season.
Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Chemsdine Talbi, Reinildo Mandava, Bertrand Traore, Simon Adringa, and Habib Diarra are all departing for the tournament.
Not only are the Black Cats seeing their squad get decimated. They are also facing Manchester City, Brighton, and Crystal Palace during this period. It could be season-defining after a brilliant first few months of the campaign.
Tottenham
The good news for Spurs is they get to keep Mohammed Kudus after Ghana failed to qualify. Midfield duo Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma are departing, leaving Thomas Frank short on midfield options.
West Ham
Nuno Espírito Santo has a bit of a dilemma with both of his full-backs, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf, heading to AFCON. Look for Kyle Walker-Peters and Igor Julio to fill in.
Wolves
Marshall Munetsi, Tawana Chirewa, Emmanual Agbadou, and Tolu Arokodare are expected to be named in their respective AFCON squads for Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria.
Rooted to the foot of the table, African players have provided 20% of league minutes so far this season.
Teams Not Missing Players
- Arsenal
- Chelsea
- Leeds
- Newcastle (Yoane Wissa left out of DR Congo’s squad through injury)
AFCON Dates
- 31 December – Group stage ends
- 3-6 January – Round of 16
- 9-10 January – Quarter finals
- 14 January – Semi finals
- 17 January – Third place playoff
- 18 January – Final
