Manchester United’s AFCON contingent could miss as many as six club games while away on international duty at the upcoming tournament.
It’s a regular problem for European clubs when the Africa Cup of Nations rolls around. The 2023 AFCON tournament – which confusingly will be played in 2024 – takes place in the Ivory Coast from 13 January to 11 February.
In the middle of the European domestic season, many clubs will have to cope without some of their key players. Others, such as Premier League champions Manchester City, have been luckier.
Pep Guardiola’s side are not due to lose a single player to this year’s AFCON. United on the other will be without two players for at least part of the competition.
United have struggled enough in the opening half of the season, with Eric Ten Hag’s side sixth in the table already out of the Champions League.
The cloud of ownership uncertainty has lingered over Old Trafford once more, even with Sir Jim Ratcliffe now acquiring a minority stake from the Glazers.
Which Manchester United Players Will Be At AFCON 2023?
While he’s not had the best start to life at United, Cameroonian keeper André Onana will be a big loss for Eric Ten Hag. Their only other senior goalkeeping options are 37-year-old veteran Tom Heaton, or Turkish keeper Altay Bayindir.
Bayindir is yet to make his United debut since joining from Fenerbahce in the summer. While he is a full international, the pressure at United has clearly affected Onana this season, and could likely do the same to the Bayindir.
Andre Onana will go to the AFCON. It’s his time to shine
🇹🇷🔥 pic.twitter.com/zYZG01kHRK
— 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐫 (@UtdEra_) December 28, 2023
Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat earned his move to Old Trafford thanks to a strong showing for his country at the World Cup last year. But despite a mediocre time at United thus far, losing him would be a blow for Ten Hag.
Amrabat has made 17 appearances for United so far this season, and is an important member of Ten Hag’s midfield selection.
How many games United’s AFCON stars will miss depends on how well their nations perform, of course. Senegal are this year’s favourites according to the bookies, but Cameroon, Morocco, Tunisia and Ivory Coast all have a chance.
2023 AFCON Schedule
The group stages of this season’s AFCON run from 13 to 24 January. Thanks to the Premier League’s scheduling, United only actually have one game during this period.
They host Tottenham at Old Trafford on 14 of January, meaning anyone involved with AFCON will definitely be unavailable. There is also a chance they will miss United’s FA Cup third round tie with Wigan on 8 January, depending on when they link up with their national sides.
Should United win that tie, the fourth round is to be played over the weekend of 27 January. This may prove too soon for any players eliminated in the group stages, if fixtures fall unkindly.
The AFCON knockout rounds this year start on 27 January, with the final on 11 February. United have three Premier League matches in that period.
They travel to Wolves on 1 February, before hosting West Ham three days later. United’s trip to Aston Villa coincides with the AFCON final on the 11 February.
Onana and Amrabat could miss any number of these games, dependent on how well their nations perform.
Manchester United’s Schedule During AFCON
- 8 January: Wigan – Manchester United (FA Cup third round)
- 14 January: Manchester United – Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
- 27 January: FA Cup fourth round
- 1 February: Wolves – Manchester United (Premier League)
- 4 February: Manchester United – West Ham (Premier League)
- 11 February: Aston Villa – Manchester United (Premier League)
Man United’s first game after the Africa Cup of Nations takes place on 18 February, when they visit Luton Town.
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