AFCON 2025: Which Premier League Teams Stand to Lose the Most?

The 2025/26 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on December 21st, and Premier League clubs are bracing for another wave of mid-season absences. The tournament runs until January 18th, meaning players could miss up to six league fixtures depending on how far their countries advance.

FIFA has confirmed that clubs can hold onto their players until December 15th, but after that, national teams take priority.

Below is a team-by-team look at who’s heading to the tournament and which clubs are most affected.

Arsenal – No absences

Arsenal enter the winter period unaffected, with no African internationals in their senior squad.

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Aston Villa – 1 player

• Evann Guessand (Ivory Coast) – Expected to join the defending champions.

Bournemouth – 1 player

• Amine Adli (Morocco) – Likely to be called up by the host nation.
• Antoine Semenyo stays put as Ghana failed to qualify.

Brentford – 2 players

• Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso)
• Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) – Included in Nigeria’s preliminary squad.

Brighton – 1 player

• Carlos Baleba (Cameroon) – In contention despite a difficult domestic season.
• Yankuba Minteh remains since Gambia missed out.

Chelsea – No absences

Crystal Palace – Up to 4 players

Injuries cloud their situation, but available players include:

• Chadi Riad (Morocco)
• Chieck Doucoure (Mali)
• Ismaila Sarr (Senegal) – Recently injured.
• Christantus Uche (Nigeria) – In the preliminary squad.

Everton – 3 players

• Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal)
• Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)
• Adam Aznou (Morocco) – A possible call-up.

Fulham – 3 players

All three Nigerians are included in the preliminary list:

• Alex Iwobi
• Calvin Bassey
• Samuel Chukwueze

Leeds – No absences

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Liverpool – 1 player

• Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Manchester City – 1 player

• Omar Marmoush (Egypt)

Manchester United – 3 players

• Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)
• Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
• Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco)

Newcastle – No absences

Yoane Wissa (DR Congo) would normally feature but isn’t selected due to injury.

Nottingham Forest – 4 players

• Taiwo Awoniyi (Nigeria)
• Ola Aina (Nigeria) – Injured until at least January.
• Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast)
• Willy Boly (Ivory Coast)

Sunderland – 7 players (Most affected)

No club is hit harder than Sunderland. Potential call-ups include:

• Noah Sadiki (DR Congo)
• Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo)
• Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco)
• Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique)
• Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)
• Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast)
• Habib Diarra (Senegal) – Dependent on fitness

Tottenham Hotspur – 2 players

• Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)
• Yves Bissouma (Mali) – Call-up uncertain.

Mohammed Kudus stays as Ghana did not qualify.

West Ham – 2 players

• Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)
• El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal)

Wolves – 4 players

• Marshall Munetsi (Zimbabwe)
• Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe)
• Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast)
• Tolu Arokodare (Nigeria)
  Jackson Tchatchoua misses out after not being selected by Cameroon.