West Ham’s AFCON duo could miss up to six games while away on international duty for this year’s competition.
It’s a major issue for many 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 be without several of their most important players. Others, such as Premier League champions Manchester City, have been luckier.
Pep Guardiola isn’t due to lose a single player during this year’s AFCON. West Ham are not so lucky – they will be without two big names for at least part of the competition.
David Moyes’ men have been in irregular form lately. They beat Manchester United 2-0 in their last game, and breezed through to the Europa League knockouts after topping Group A.
But they have conceded five goals twice in recent matches, with heavy defeats to Liverpool and Fulham in the league. They currently sit seventh in the table, but will leapfrog Man United into sixth place if they avoid defeat against Arsenal.
Which West Ham Players Will Be At AFCON 2023?
Ghanaian striker Mohammed Kudus has been one of the signings of the season in the Premier League. He’s scored 13 goals in all competitions since joining from Eredivisie side Ajax, including six in the league.
The AFCON tournament could not have been worse timed for David Moyes, with Kudus in a rich vein of form for the East London club.
Matchday, Kudus day❤️🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/L65v3KDUMx
— Dr Sneaker Nyame (@SneakerNyame_) December 28, 2023
Elsewhere, Morocco’s Nayef Aguerd will also be missing for West Ham for some or all of January.
Aguerd has one goal for his country, scoring for Morocco against Sudan during World Cup qualification in 2021.
However, fellow North African Said Benrahma will not be going away on international duty.
The Algerian has not made the squad for this year’s AFCON, so will be free top play for West Ham while the others are away.
How many games West Ham’s AFCON duo will miss obviously depends on how far their nations progress. Senegal are this year’s favourites according to the bookies, but Ghana and Morocco are both strong sides capable of a deep run in the tournament.
2023 AFCON Schedule
The group stages of this season’s AFCON run from 13 to 24 January. Thanks to the Premier League’s scheduling, West Ham only actually have one game during this period.
They travel to Sheffield United on 21 of January, meaning anyone involved with AFCON will definitely be unavailable. There is also a chance they will miss the Irons’ FA Cup third round tie with Bristol City on 7 January, depending when they leave for international duty.
Should West Ham beat Bristol, the fourth round is to be played over the weekend of 27 January. This may be too early for any players knocked out in the group stages.
The AFCON knockout rounds this year start on 27 January, with the final on 11 February. West Ham have three Premier League games in that period.
They host Bournemouth on 1 February, before visiting Manchester United at Old Trafford three days later. The home game against Arsenal coincides with the AFCON final on the 11 February.
West Ham’s AFCON duo could miss any number of these games, dependent on how far their countries make it.
West Ham’s Schedule During AFCON
- 7 January: West Ham – Bristol City (FA Cup third round)
- 21 January: Sheffield United – West Ham (Premier League)
- 27 January: FA Cup fourth round
- 1 February: West Ham – Bournemouth (Premier League)
- 4 February: Manchester United – West Ham (Premier League)
- 11 February: West Ham – Arsenal (Premier League)
David Moyes’ men play their first game after the Africa Cup of Nations on 17 February, when they visit Nottingham Forest.
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