AFCON 2023: Which Premier League players will be missing?
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is right around the corner, with hosts Ivory Coast set to kick it off on January 13 in Abidjan.
Numerous Premier League players have made their name in the competition and gone on to achieve greatness during the tournament.
This year's edition will see some big names get call-ups and miss a significant chunk of minutes. Depending on their progress in the tournament, players could miss as many as seven games.
So which players will clubs be missing this time? Let's have a look, with teams in alphabetical order.
Arsenal - Mohamed Elneny
Arsenal fans can afford to feel relieved given they stand to lose just one player to AFCON - and a fringe one at that.
Mohamed Elneny played less than two hours of top-flight football last season and made just a two-minute cameo in his only league appearance of this term (the 5-0 win over Sheffield United in October).
But this is of course tempered by the fact that Thomas Partey is missing through injury, both for the Gunners and Ghana. A regular in Mikel Arteta's side last season, the midfielder would surely have been bound for Ivory Coast had he not picked up his thigh issue.
Still, his Black Stars squad omission means Arsenal fans can hope to have him firing for them again in a shorter timeframe.
Aston Villa - Bertrand Traore
Unlike other players in this piece, Aston Villa's Bertrand Traore will be hoping that a good showing at AFCON can accelerate a transfer away from Villa Park.
The Burkina Faso winger has lost his place due to the arrivals of Moussa Diaby and Nicolo Zaniolo this summer, playing just 12 minutes in the Premier League.
Last season, he scored crucial goals against Nottingham Forest and Leicester, however, he has been reduced to a bench player this term.
Bournemouth - Dango Ouattara & Antoine Semenyo
Andoni Iraola and Bournemouth are set to lose an attacking duo during the AFCON period.
Wingers Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso) and Antoine Semenyo (Ghana) have been racking up plenty of game time lately, with the former forcing his way into the Cherries' starting eleven for the last three games of 2023, though an injury that forced him off against Tottenham may threaten his involvement.
Semenyo hasn't missed a game for his club since mid-August, so his absence will be keenly felt.
A sparingly used Hamed Traore was overlooked by the host nation, so that could leave some cover on the flank should Iraola need it.
Brentford - Yoane Wissa & Frank Onyeka
Brentford are set to lose a key man in striker Yoane Wissa (DR Congo) during the AFCON period as well as midfielder Frank Onyeka (Nigeria), with injury already depriving them of Bryan Mbeumo's services.
Wissa and Cameroon's Mbeumo have spearheaded Thomas Frank's attack this season.
Since Ivan Toney's suspension kicked into effect in the summer, the club have managed to fare reasonably well without him, however, without Mbeumo and now Wissa, Frank is likely to have serious issues on the goalscoring front unless a signing or two is made during the January window.
Brighton - Simon Adingra
Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton are balancing Premier League ambitions alongside a first European adventure for the club this season.
Squad depth is especially important during times like these and with AFCON coming up, De Zerbi will be glad it is just one man he is losing, even if it is a key one.
Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast) has been superb this season, registering seven goal involvements across 15 appearances in all competitions.
Ghana's Tariq Lamptey and Carlos Baleba of Cameroon were not called up, though neither has seen significant minutes so far this season.
Burnley - None
Vincent Kompany's Clarets are bottom of the Premier League and desperately need to put together a run of results.
Fortunately, they can focus their efforts on survival with none of their squad bound for Ivory Coast.
Only 23-year-old Moroccan Anass Zaroury - who has barely seen any minutes this season after being a key part of Burnley's promotion run from the Championship - was in line for a call-up, but failed to make Walid Regragui's list.
Chelsea - Nicolas Jackson
Chelsea's Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson has made a great start to life at Stamford Bridge. Alongside Cole Palmer, Jackson leads the Blues squad in terms of goals with eight, also contributing two assists.
He's averaging 0.66 xG per90 this season, and Jackson will play a key role in a Senegal side looking to defend their crown at AFCON this year.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino has Christopher Nkunku to call up on when fit, or can trust the young Armando Broja to lead the line in Jackson's absence, or the big spending Blues can dip into the transfer market once again to go for a forward who can help maintain a push for Europe this season.
Crystal Palace - Jordan Ayew
There was talk of Palace's thin squad being pushed to its limits during AFCON, with three senior key players mooted for involvement.
That ultimately didn't materialise, though Malian Cheick Doucoure's potentially season-ending achilles injury is a sizeable blow already for Roy Hodgson.
Only Jordan Ayew (Ghana) is set to leave, with no international return for compatriot Jeffrey Schlupp, as Palace look to keep themselves above the Premier League drop zone.
Everton - Idrissa Gana Gueye
Sean Dyche's Everton have had mixed fortunes this season. News of the club's points deduction for violating Premier League FFP rules was followed by a determined surge on the field, though the Toffees are still in a precarious lowly position.
Picking up results is more important than ever through January, but they will have to do so in the absence of Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal).
However, Abdoulaye Doucoure's decision to put club before country and effectively rule himself out of AFCON involvement with Mali is a welcome boost.
Both have been crucial in offensive and defensive responsibilities thus far.
Fulham - Calvin Bassey, Fode Ballo-Toure & Alex Iwobi
Marco Silva and his staff will have to do without Nigeria internationals Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi during AFCON, two huge absentees for the Cottagers.
Senegalese defender Fode Ballo-Toure has also been called up but is far less important in the squad when compared with the aforementioned duo.
Iwobi's absence, especially in a creative sense will be felt in the Fulham side.
Liverpool - Mohamed Salah
With 18 goals and eight assists in all competitions, Mohamed Salah continues to show no signs of aging as he spearheads Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool 2.0.
The Egyptian international will hope to go one step further with his country after finishing runners-up at AFCON 2017 and 2021.
Liverpool's attacking depth should be enough to make do without Salah, but they will be tested with big games against Arsenal and Chelsea during the AFCON period.
Luton Town - Issa Kabore
After winning best young player at AFCON 2021 with Burkina Faso, Luton Town fullback Issa Kabore will be hungry for more this time around and will be a big miss for Rob Edwards.
But there is a silver lining for the Hatters' boss; he holds onto midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu. The 30-year-old didn't make the DR Congo squad, with AFCON involvement billed as a potential new chapter on his fairytale from non-league to the Premier League.
Man City - None
Pep Guardiola is one of three lucky bosses in the Premier League to be unaffected by AFCON action this season.
City will have league fixtures against Brentford, Everton and Burnley during that period, with matches in the Champions League and potentially the FA Cup.
With rival sides losing key players in this period, Guardiola's side can put some distance between themselves and the challengers in the title race.
Manchester United - Andre Onana, Sofyan Amrabat & Amad Diallo
Erik ten Hag and Manchester United will lose three players during AFCON, including goalkeeper Andre Onana (Cameroon), midfielder Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco) and youngster Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast).
The call-up sees Onana return to the national team fold after retiring due to a disagreement with coach Rigobert Song.
He and Amrabat, who is only just starting to establish himself as a starter and potential stand-in for Casemiro, are the standout misses for Ten Hag during the AFCON period but with players returning from injuries and Turkey number one Altay Bayindir standing by, the Red Devils should do just fine.
What's more, Hannibal Mejbri will not be turning out for Tunisia at the tournament after the player himself reportedly withdrew from contention.
The 20-year-old has proven to be a useful squad option during something of an injury crisis for United.
Newcastle - None
Rounding off the trio of unaffected teams alongside Burnley and Manchester City and are Newcastle - in fact, they face City on the opening day of the tournament.
League action during the AFCON period sees the Magpies play away fixtures at Villa and Forest in addition to hosting Luton at home.
Exiting the Champions League group stage in fourth was a crushing blow, but Howe's men can count themselves among the privileged as their rivals for Europe look to shuffle the pack through January.
Nottingham Forest - Awoniyi, Boly, Sangare & co.
This is the big one. Nuno Espirito Santo's Nottingham Forest are set to be hit hardest by AFCON, losing six players during the tournament - and without star striker Taiwo Awoniyi's groin injury, it could have been seven.
Cheikhou Kouyate aside, all of the other African players have been important for Forest. Here's a summary of the players they'll be missing divided by country:
Ivory Coast
- Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Ibrahim Sangare
Senegal
- Moussa Niakhate, Cheikhou Kouyate
Nigeria
- Ola Aina
Sheffield United - Anis Ben Slimane & Yasser Larouci
Sheffield United will be without the duo of midfielder Anis Ben Slimane (Tunisia) and full-back Yasser Larouci (Algeria).
Slimane saw steadily more action towards New Year as the Blades battle against the drop, but Larouci's involvement has been minimal and therefore AFCON shouldn't be a huge concern for Chris Wilder.
Tottenham - Yves Bissouma & Pape Matar Sarr
The Gunners' North London rivals have bigger problems to worry about. They are potentially facing a spell of five games without midfielders Yves Bissouma (Mali) and Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal).
The African duo have formed a crucial part of a midfield trio alongside James Maddison under Ange Postecoglou, and the Spurs boss will need to work out a solution to compensate for the absence of these two players.
West Ham - Nayef Aguerd & Mohammed Kudus
This year's AFCON will see two West Ham players take part - Nayef Aguerd for Morocco and Mohammed Kudus for Ghana.
Aguerd has started 16 Premier League games this season for David Moyes's side and has become a core of the Hammers defence since joining last summer, while new signing Kudus is showing signs of what he can bring to the Hammers.
The omission of Said Benrahma from the Algeria squad came as a boost to David Moyes. His importance has drifted at the London Stadium, however, he remains a valuable asset in cup competitions.
Maxwel Cornet's Ivory Coast snub is unlikely to have much affect in East London, given his limited gametime.
Wolves - Rayan Ait-Nouri & Boubacar Traore
Wolves are set to be without two important youngsters in the squad - Rayan Ait Nouri (Algeria) and Boubacar Traore (Mali).
Ait-Nouri is an important starter for boss Gary O'Neil, meanwhile Traore has come off the bench often this season, making 14 appearances in all competitions.
The Algerian's absence will be felt given his industrious nature up and down the left flank and willingness to be an all-round asset.
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