The African Cup of Nations kicks off in January, with many Premier League players leaving England to participate and represent their countries. The competition lasts until February 11th, with the Ivory Coast the host nations.
Arsenal
Mohamed Elneny (Egypt), Thomas Partey (Ghana)
Aston Villa
Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)
Bournemouth
Hamed Traore (Ivory Coast), Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Antoine Semenyo (Ghana)
Brentford
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Yoane Wissa (DR Congo), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria)
Brighton
Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast), Tariq Lamptey (Ghana), Carlos Baleba (Cameroon)
Burnley
Lyle Foster (South Africa), Anass Zaroury (Morocco)
Chelsea
Nicolas Jackson (Senegal)
Crystal Palace
Jordan Ayew (Ghana), Jeffrey Schlupp (Ghana), Cheick Doucoure (Mali)
Everton
Idrissa Gueye (Senegal), Abdoulaye Doucoure (Mali)
Fulham
Fodo Ballo-Toure (Senegal), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)
Liverpool
Joel Matip (Cameroon), Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Luton Town
Issa Kabore (Burkina Faso), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (DR Congo)
Manchester United
Andre Onana (Cameroon), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia), Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
Nottingham Forest
Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast), Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast), Moussa Niakhate (Senegal), Cheikhou Kouyate (Senegal), Ola Aina (Nigeria), Taiwo Awonyi (Nigeria)
Sheffield United
Ismaila Coulibaly (Mali), Anis Ben Slimane (Tunisia), Benie Traore (Ivory Coast), Yasser Larouci (Algeria)
Tottenham
Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal), Yves Bissouma (Mali)
West Ham
Mohammed Kudus (Ghana), Said Benrahma (Algeria), Nayef Aguerd (Morocco), Maxwell Cornet (Ivory Coast)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria), Boubacar Traore (Mali)
Manchester City are one of two sides not to have a squad member feature in at AFCON. Pep Guardiola (barring injuries) will have a full selection in the turn of the year, and with their frightening depth that could be a huge factor as the go in search of a fourth consecutive title.
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle are also not affected by AFCON, which is one less than thing for Howe to worry about, given their long injury list. Newcastle will hope to gather momentum at the start of 2024, as they push for a return to European football.
In the other end of the scale, Nottingham Forest will have to cope with losing no less than seven players to AFCON. Several of their first team players will be on international duty, with Awonyi fighting against the clock to recover from his injury in time.
What is more frustrating for Steve Cooper is that the players that will be missing are not only key, but in defence, midfield and attacking leaving them short in a lot of important areas on the pitch. Luckily for Forest they have a large enough squad, but they are currently in a perilous position in the Premier League, five points above the drop zone.
Tottenham Hotspur will be without two of their two midfielders in Bissouma and Sarr. That could leave a huge hole in the centre of the park, with the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp having to fill in. By that time they hope to have both James Maddison and Giovani Lo Celso available for selection.
Joel Matip would have been missing for Liverpool, but he will now miss the tournament for Cameroon after sustaining an injury at the beginning of December. Liverpool will of course be without Mo Salah who will be seeking glory with Egypt. Liverpool are blessed with squad depth in the attacking department, but may suffer without the goal scoring winger.
Andre Onana will also be unavailable due to AFCON. The Manchester United shot stopper has had a dramatic first few months at his new club. He has let in 39 goals in all competitions so far. Now Erik ten Hag will have to rely on back-up keeper Altay Bayindir who has yet to feature this season, with his only minutes coming on international duty with Turkey. If Bayindir impresses, it could be a case of Onana having to work his way back to be number one again.
Sofyan Amrabat will also be missing. The midfielder has found life tough at Old Trafford as ten Hag’s side have gone through tricky spells. In that time the Moroccan is yet to score, but has picked himself up six yellow cards. Manchester United have some depth in defensive midfield but will be relying on Casemiro to make a swift recovery from injury.
Chelsea will have to make do without Nicolas Jackson. The Senegalese striker has seven goals in all competitions this season. Chelsea are struggling for points at the moment, so having one of their key forwards missing for up to a month is less than ideal for Mauricio Pochettino, so will have to rely on his other stars to fire Chelsea up the table. Pochettino will be relieved by the timely return of summer signing of Christopher Nkunku.
West Ham will be without three forward players during AFCON. Said Benrahma, Maxwell Cornet and Mohammed Kudus, which only leaves them with an already injured Michail Antonio, Danny Ings, Jarrod Bowen and Divin Mubama. It could be a testing time for David Moyes, limited in numbers in the final third and games against Brighton, Manchester United and Arsenal within that period.
