The Africa Cup of Nations is just over a week away with many teams around the world preparing to lose members of their squad for a month. So, check out all of the Championship players at AFCON ahead of the tournament in Ivory Coast.
Championship Players At AFCON – Who Is Heading T0 Ivory Coast?
With eight teams looking to be without at least one player or more, some rivals could be set for a boost knowing they have no players going away. For example, Leeds United are the only side in the top five of the Championship to have no African players in their squad, so will not be affected by the competition.
Huddersfield
The Terriers could be without Brahima Diarra, who has recently broke into the Mali u23 squad, and has a good chance of featuring for the senior team in Ivory Coast.
What games could he miss?
- Man City vs Huddersfield, Sun 7th Jan (FA Cup)
- Huddersfield vs Plymouth Argyle, Sat 13th Jan (Championship)
- Blackburn Rovers vs Huddersfield, Sat 20th Jan (Championship)
- QPR vs Huddersfield, Sun 28th Jan (Championship)
- Huddersfield vs Sheffield Wednesday, Sat 3rd Feb (Championship)
- Southampton vs Huddersfield, Sat 10th Feb (Championship)
Hull City
32-year-old Jean-Michael Seri will represent host nation Ivory Coast at AFCON 2024 and the Tigers midfielder will be a huge miss to his side having featured in all but one of their 26 league games thus far this season.
What games will he miss?
- Hull City vs Birmingham, Sat 6th Jan (FA Cup)
- Hull City vs Norwich City, Fri 12th Jan (Championship)
- Sunderland vs Hull City, Fri 19th Jan (Championship)
- Southampton vs Hull City, Sat 27th Jan (Championship)
- Hull City vs Millwall, Sat 3rd Feb (Championship)
- Hull City vs Swansea, Sat 10th Feb (Championship)
Leicester City
The Foxes will be without three players for the duration of AFCON as regulars Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi will both join up with Nigeria despite both having injury concerns.
Meanwhile Patson Daka will be representing Zambia at the tournament. However, much to the delight of Leicester fans, summer loan signing Abdul Fatawu has decided not to link up with Ghana in a bit to stay and impress Enzo Maresca as he eyes a permanent move at the end of the season.
What games will they miss?
- Millwall vs Leicester, Sat 6th Jan (FA Cup)
- Coventry vs Leicester, Sat 13th Jan (Championship)
- Leicester vs Ipswich, Mon 22nd Jan (Championship)
- Leicester vs Swansea, Sat 27th Jan (Championship)
- Stoke vs Leicester, Sat 3rd Feb (Championship)
- Watford vs Leicester, Sat 10th Feb (Championship)
Middlesbrough
Boro’s number one goalkeeper Seny Dieng will join up with Senegal, likely as second choice behind former Chelsea shot stopper Edouard Mendy, and will be hugely missed by Michael Carrick’s side.
What games will he miss?
- Middlesbrough vs Aston Villa, Sat 6th Jan (FA Cup)
- Middlesbrough vs Chelsea, Tue 9th Jan (Carabao Cup)
- Millwall vs Middlesbrough, Sat 13th Jan (Championship)
- Middlesbrough vs Rotherham, Sat 20th Jan (Championship)
- Chelsea vs Middlesbrough, Tue, 23rd Jan (Carabao Cup)
- Birmingham vs Middlesbrough, Sat 27th Jan (Championship)
- Middlesbrough vs Sunderland, Sun 4th Feb (Championship)
- Middlesbrough vs Bristol City, Sat 10th Feb (Championship)
Southampton
Joe Aribo will join up with Nigeria, and he is set to be a huge miss for Saints, who are right in the play-off mix, eyeing an instant return to the Premier League.
What games will he miss?
- Southampton vs Walsall, Sat 6th Jan (FA Cup)
- Southampton vs Sheffield Wednesday, Sat 13th Jan (Championship)
- Swansea vs Southampton, Sat 20th Jan (Championship)
- Southampton vs Hull City, Sat 27th Jan (Championship)
- Rotherham vs Southampton, Sat 3rd Feb (Championship)
- Southampton vs Huddersfield, Sat 10th Feb (Championship)
Stoke City
Junior Tchamadeu is the only Potters player playing at AFCON, and he will represent Cameroon. The versatile defender has had a good run in the side over the past few weeks and will be missed.
What games will he miss?
- Stoke vs Brighton, Sat 6th Jan (FA Cup)
- Rotherham vs Stoke, Sat 13th Jan (Championship)
- Stoke vs Birmingham, Sat 20th Jan (Championship)
- Sunderland vs Stoke, Sat 27th Jan (Championship)
- Stoke vs Leicester, Sat 3rd Feb (Championship)
- Blackburn Rovers vs Stoke, Sat 10th February (Championship)
Watford
The sole AFCON representative for Watford will be Edo Kayembe, who has been called up by DR Congo.
What games will he miss?
- Watford vs Chesterfield, Sat 6th Jan (FA Cup)
- QPR vs Watford, Sun 14th Jan (Championship)
- Bristol City vs Watford, Sat 20th Jan (Championship)
- Sheffield Wednesday vs Watford, Sat 27th Jan (Championship)
- Watford vs Cardiff City, Sat 3rd Feb (Championship)
- Watford vs Leicester, Sat 10th Feb (Championship)
West Brom
Sami Ajayi will head to AFCON for Nigeria, and is amongst four Championship players to be doing so. Another important first teamer in Grady Diangana is set to be missing too, and he has been called up for DR Congo.
What games will they miss?
- West Brom vs Aldershot Town, Sun 7th Jan (FA Cup)
- West Brom vs Blackburn Rovers, Sat 13th Jan (Championship)
- Norwich vs West Brom, Sat 20th Jan (Championship)
- Plymouth Argyle vs West Brom, Sat 27th Jan (Championship)
- West Brom vs Birmingham, Sat 3rd Feb (Championship)
- Ipswich Town vs West Brom, Sat 10th Feb (Championship)
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