AFCON schedule and what it means for Premier League clubs
The positive side for football fans is that many of the world’s leading players will come together in Morocco in December and January for another exciting edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. The downside for several Premier League teams is that some of their most important African internationals will be away on international duty and unavailable for club matches.
This 24 team tournament kicks off with the hosts facing Comoros at the 69,500 seat Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday, December 21. The competition concludes with the final at the same ground on Sunday, January 18. Any player called up to represent their country at AFCON will be absent for at least three rounds of Premier League fixtures, while those who go all the way to the final could miss as many as six.
Writers from The Athletic have looked at each of the 20 Premier League clubs in turn to judge how severely they might be hit by these absences. The early assessments for a handful of teams are set out below.
Arsenal: historic African ties but no AFCON call ups this time
Players who could potentially play at AFCON: none
Fixtures they could miss: not applicable
Arsenal are one of only three clubs in the division without a player from an AFCON nation in their senior squad. Given their long and rich history of African players, that is a surprising position. Under Arsene Wenger the club regularly signed talents from across the continent and the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Kolo Toure and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang became major figures in north London.
The choice not to extend midfielder Thomas Partey’s contract last summer means there are currently no African players in Arsenal’s first team group. From a purely sporting perspective that could work in their favour this season. While rivals may lose key individuals to the tournament in Morocco, Arsenal will keep their full squad together as they push on with their title challenge.
Aston Villa: Guessand’s versatility could be missed over Christmas
Players who could potentially play at AFCON: Evann Guessand (Ivory Coast)
Guessand’s impact since arriving from Nice in the summer has been mixed. Even so, he has earned enough trust from Unai Emery to start big games on the right side, a position where Villa do not have a classic winger. His speed and willingness to run at defenders, even if he sometimes lacks polish in the final action, give the manager a different option compared to the club’s many number tens.
The coaching staff also value the 24 year old’s ability to operate across the front line. If he joins up with Ivory Coast, Villa will lose that flexibility and depth in attack, especially on the right. Guessand has not scored in the Premier League yet but he has found the net in the Europa League, a competition where Emery often rotates his side.
His absence over a demanding festive schedule, which includes fixtures against Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, would be far from ideal. It would likely place greater responsibility on Donyell Malen to play more frequently, as he is the closest stylistic match in the squad.
Bournemouth: limited minutes for Adli ease the AFCON worry
Players who could potentially play at AFCON: Amine Adli (Morocco)
Fixtures he could miss: Burnley (H), Chelsea (A), Arsenal (H), Tottenham Hotspur (H), FA Cup third round tie, Brighton & Hove Albion (A)
Bournemouth are unlikely to be too badly affected by AFCON. Adli has only played 247 minutes in the league this season and has started just one match after his move from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, a transfer worth €29million. His involvement has been sporadic so far, so losing him for several weeks would not disrupt the core of the team.
Brentford: Ouattara a bigger concern than Onyeka
Players who could potentially play at AFCON: Frank Onyeka (Nigeria), Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso)
Fixtures they could miss: Wolverhampton Wanderers (A), Bournemouth (H), Tottenham Hotspur (A), Everton (A), Sunderland (H), FA Cup third round tie, potential Carabao Cup semi final first leg, Chelsea (A)
Nigeria have a stronger chance than Burkina Faso of going deep into the tournament, provided they recover from the disappointment of failing to qualify for the next World Cup only a short time ago. Even so, Brentford would not feel the loss of Onyeka too deeply in domestic competition. The 27 year old midfielder has not started any league games this season and has made only six appearances from the bench.
The situation looks very different with Ouattara. The winger has featured in 11 league matches and scored vital goals in wins over Aston Villa and Liverpool. Since his move from Bournemouth in the summer for a club record initial fee of £37million, plus £5m in possible add ons, the 23 year old has been a constant threat on the right flank.
He also played for Nigeria in their Unity Cup meeting with Jamaica at Brentford’s stadium in May and since then head coach Eric Chelle has selected him in all six competitive fixtures. If he heads to AFCON and Burkina Faso go beyond the group stage, Brentford will be without one of their most dangerous attacking outlets for a critical stretch of the season.
Brighton & Hove Albion: Baleba’s form blurs the picture
Players who could potentially play at AFCON: Carlos Baleba (Cameroon)
Fixtures he could miss: Sunderland (H), Arsenal (A), West Ham United (A), Burnley (H), Manchester City (A), FA Cup third round tie, Bournemouth (H)
If this were the Carlos Baleba of the 2024 25 campaign, the impact of his departure would be considerable. The reality this season has been very different. The central midfielder has not looked like the same player and his performances have fluctuated. Interest from Manchester United in the summer appears to have unsettled the 21 year old, whose form has been highly inconsistent.
Head coach Fabian Hurzeler substituted him at half time in three of the first seven league matches of the season. Baleba finally completed a full 90 minutes in the Premier League during the 3 0 home victory over Leeds on November 2, only to be taken off at the interval again in the 2 1 win against Brentford after he conceded a penalty.
If he joins up with Cameroon, Brighton will lose another option in the middle of the pitch during a run that includes tough assignments at the Emirates and the Etihad. Based on this season’s form, however, there would arguably have been more concern if winger Yankuba Minteh had been going to the tournament. Gambia did not qualify, which removes that particular worry for the club.
