Which Premier League Stars Are Expected to Take Part in AFCON 2025?
- Think Football Ideas
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 14
Premier League Clubs Brace for AFCON 2025 Absences as Dozens of Key Players Prepare for Mid-Season Tournament
As Premier League clubs map out their season strategies, a familiar mid-season hurdle looms large on the calendar.
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) returns in late December. With Morocco set to host the month-long spectacle, several top-flight squads are bracing to lose key personnel during one of the busiest stretches of the English football season.
When Club Meets Country
AFCON 2025 runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, overlapping with six rounds of league action, the third round of the FA Cup, and the opening legs of the EFL Cup semi-finals.
That adds up to as many as eight games players could be unavailable for. The timing has long sparked club-versus-country debates, and this edition is no exception, especially with nearly 50 Premier League players on track to be called up.
From Liverpool's Mohamed Salah to Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo, some of the Premier League’s biggest names are likely to feature in the continental championship. Teams in the title race, European push, or relegation battle will all feel the squeeze.
Names to Watch
Salah remains the face of Egypt’s golden generation, though Liverpool might not experience much of a dip thanks to fresh recruits like Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, who can help fill the void.
New United arrival Mbeumo could link up with the Cameroon camp, leaving the Red Devils potentially without a top-tier winger at a crucial stage.
Everton's midfield duo, Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye, and Tottenham pair Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr all represent Senegal, one of the tournament’s best-stocked squads.
There’s also Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush (Egypt), Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa (DR Congo), and Fulham’s Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), among others. These are players with regular minutes under their belts, and their absences could shift tactical approaches and squad depth.
Who’s Missing the Tournament?
Interestingly, not every African international in the Premier League will be heading to Morocco. Ghana’s failure to qualify means players like Tottenham Hotspur’s Mohammed Kudus, Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey, and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo are staying put.
The same goes for Everton striker Beto, whose Guinea-Bissau side also missed out. Brighton, in fact, stand alone as the only club with multiple African players whose nations didn’t qualify, giving Fabian Hürzeler a relatively uninterrupted squad through the AFCON window.
Clubs Facing the Heaviest Hit
Nottingham Forest could be without as many as six players, a tough scenario for a club balancing domestic and European fixtures. Names like Taiwo Awoniyi, Ibrahim Sangare, and Willy Boly could all receive national call-ups.
Elsewhere, newly promoted Sunderland top the chart with nine potential AFCON departures, while clubs like West Ham, Crystal Palace, and Burnley are also likely to feel the effects.
On the flip side, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds currently don’t have any African internationals in their first-team squads, meaning minimal disruption during that period.
Which Nations Dominate the Premier League Pool?
Nigeria is the best-represented nation in the English top flight, boasting ten players. Senegal, DR Congo and Ivory Coast follow closely with six each, while Cameroon have four and Morocco three.
Other nations like Tunisia, South Africa, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Mozambique also have Premier League representation, further showcasing the league’s global pull and Africa’s footballing depth.