Hosts Ivory Coast will open the tournament in just over a fortnight, so join us as we run through all of the Premier League players at the Africa Cup of Nations, and how long they could be away for.
2023 Africa Cup of Nations Start Date
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which is being held in 2024 due to adverse weather conditions in host nation Ivory Coast, begins on the 13th January, and will run right the way through to the 11th February when the final is scheduled to take place.
For all those Premier League fans wondering the earliest they can have their star players back in action, the group stage will conclude on the 24th January.
Players hailing from Senegal, Algeria and Morocco could well be those missing for the longest given they lead the way on AFCON betting sites, while hosts Ivory Coast and Egypt have strong records in the competition and have been handed an outside chance.
Premier League Players at the Africa Cup of Nations
Arsenal
- Mohammed Elneny – Egypt
Despite a recent injury scare, Mohammed Elneny will travel with the Egypt squad for this year’s AFCON. Having finished runner-up in 2021, the Arsenal midfielder has twice narrowly missed out on glory in this competition.
As for Thomas Partey, the Ghanaian returned to Arsenal training this week, but has not been picked for the Black Stars next month in order to undertake his recovery in.
Aston Villa
- Bertrand Traore – Burkina Faso
Aston Villa are one of seven Premier League clubs who can count themselves lucky with just one player away on AFCON duty.
Traore has also featured for just 41 minutes across Villa’s season so far, so his absence shouldn’t be felt all that much.
Bournemouth
- Antoine Semenyo – Ghana
- Dango Outtara – Burkina Faso
Bournemouth fans will be crossing their fingers that Antoine Semenyo has a short-lived Africa Cup of Nations campaign, given he has been one of their standout performers this term.
Brentford
- Frank Onyeka – Nigeria
- Yoane Wissa – DR Congo
Bryan Mbeumo would have completed a list of three players set to be absent for Brentford in January, but he is sidelined with a three-month injury.
That leaves the Bees alarmingly short of striking options given Ivan Toney’s gambling ban, and Yoane Wissa representing DR Congo at the AFCON.
With four defeats on the bounce to their name, and both Tottenham and Manchester City on the horizon in late January and early February, this could spell danger.
Brighton
- Simon Adingra – Brighton
- Tariq Lamptey – Ghana
Despite Roberto De Zerbi announcing Simon Adingra had picked up a hamstring injury last week, the Ivorian has been selected by the host nation.
Tariq Lamptey has also been called up to Ghana’s squad by manager Chris Houghton.
Burnley
N/A
Chelsea
- Nicolas Jackson – Senegal
As mentioned, Senegal are among the tournament favourites according to football betting sites, and Chelsea could be without Nicolas Jackson for some time.
Despite garnering his fair share of critics, Jackson leads Chelsea’s goalscoring charts with eight. The return of Christopher Nkunku should relieve some of the stress over source for goals in January.
Crystal Palace
- Jordan Ayew – Ghana
Cheick Doucoure would have been called up for Mali had it not been for a nasty achilles tendon rupture at the end of November.
Therefore, Ghana’s Jordan Ayew will be the sole Palace player at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.
Everton
- Idrissa Gueye – Senegal
Idrissa Gueye is expected to represent Senegal next month, although a recent calf injury has seen him sit out Everton’s previous two games. Gueye is expected to be fit enough to travel to the Ivory Coast, however.
Abdoulaye Doucoure also rejected the chance to feature for Mali; a popular decision amongst Toffees fans.
Fulham
- Calvin Bassey – Nigeria
- Alex Iwobi – Nigeria
- Fode-Ballo Toure – Senegal
Both regular Fulham starters Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi will feature in the Nigerian squad, while Fulham loanee Fode-Ballo Toure was a surprise call-up for Senegal having played little over 200 minutes this season.
Liverpool
- Mohamed Salah – Egypt
Although Liverpool have just one player heading to AFCON, it could be argued they stand to lose the most.
19 goal involvements in as many games are the kind of numbers you can not afford to lose, but Jurgen Klopp will be hoping Liverpool’s supporting cast can take up the goalscoring mantle in his absence.
Mo Salah could miss some crucial games for Liverpool 🔴 due to AFCON:
🆚 Bournemouth away
🆚 Fulham away in the Carabao Cup semi-final
🆚 Chelsea at home
🆚 Arsenal away
🆚 Burnley at home pic.twitter.com/TLvGBJngtz— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 27, 2023
Luton
- Issa Kabore – Burkina Faso
Luton will have to make do without right-back Issa Kabore, who has been selected for an eye-catching Burkina Faso squad.
Manchester City
N/A
Manchester United
- Andre Onana – Cameroon
- Sofyan Amrabat – Morocco
- Amad Diallo – Ivory Coast
Manchester United will turn to second-choice keeper Altay Bayindir in Andre Onana’s absence. The former Fernabache shot-stopper arrived in the summer along with Onana.
Morocco’s 2022 World Cup hero Sofyan Amrabat will be hoping to find salvation on international duty once more, after enduring a testing start to life in the Premier League.
Newcastle
N/A
Nottingham Forest
- Serge Aurier – Ivory Coast
- Willy Boly – Ivory Coast
- Ibrahim Sangare – Ivory Coast
- Moussa Niakhat – Senegal
- Cheikhou Kouyate – Senegal
- Ola Aina – Nigeria
Nottingham Forest are expected to be without six key players, with an Ivory Coast trio of Aurier, Body and Sangare all named, while Niakhat and Kouyate are regular features for Senegal.
Sheffield United
- Anis Ben Slimane – Tunisia
- Yasser Larouci – Algeria
North African duo Slimane and Larouci, who have both featured sporadically for Sheffield United this season, have been called up.
Tottenham
- Yves Bissouma – Mali
- Pape Matar Sarr – Senegal
Tottenham’s injury-plagued squad will be stripped even further as Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr travel to the Ivory Coast.
Sarr exited the field in tears after fearing a serious injury in Tottenham’s victory over Bournemouth, but as one of the midfielders to watch at AFCON 2023, he is expected to travel.
West Ham
- Mohammed Kudus – Ghana
- Nayef Aguerd – Morocco
The AFCON could not have come at a worse time for West Ham, who were reaping the benefits of their summer signing Mohammed Kudus.
Nayef Aguerd will also feature for one of the tournament favourites, while Saïd Benrahma was not selected for Algeria.
Wolves
- Rayan Aït-Nouri – Algeiria
- Boubacar Traore – Mali
Aït-Nouri and Traore are Wolves’ sole representatives at AFCON 2023.
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