The full list of every Premier League player who could be unavailable during the Africa Cup of Nations

GOAL

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is set to disrupt the European season, with some Premier League clubs set to be severely affected

In an attempt to avoid overlapping with the European club campaign, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was initially set to be played in June and July. However, due to concerns over adverse weather conditions in Ivory Coast, the tournament was pushed back. It will now run between 13 January and 11 February.

The news went down like a lead balloon for Premier League clubs. For years, one of the pitfalls of signing the best African players has been the prospect of losing them for the tournament during the busy winter period.

And, thanks to the scheduling change, this season will be no different. Few English clubs will escape the effects of the 2023 AFCON, with as many as 43 players all under threat of missing games for their respective clubs when the action kicks off in the new year.

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Below, GOAL has taken a look at which Premier League stars are set for a tournament-enforced absence this winter.

Getty ImagesSaid Benrahma (Algeria)Benrahma has been a mainstay of the West Ham team since his move from Brentford in summer 2020. He netted in the Europa Conference League final last season and will be a big miss for the Hammers when he jets off to the Ivory Coast.
Getty ImagesRayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria)Ait-Nouri is only a relatively recent addition to the Algeria ranks, having switched international allegiances from France in March 2023. Secretly, Wolves might be hoping he is left out of the Fennec Foxes’ AFCON squad as he is one of their most consistent performers.
Getty ImagesBertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)Unplayable on his day, Traore has blown hot and cold since signing for Aston Villa. His progress was hampered by an injury-hit 2022-23 campaign, and he’ll be hoping to get back to his best for club and country over the coming months.
Getty ImagesDango Ouattara (Burkina Faso)Ouattara was one of the spate of January signings that helped propel Bournemouth to Premier League safety last season. Unfortunately, an injury has prevented his involvement so far this campaign, though he should be fit and raring to go for Burkina Faso this winter.
Getty ImagesIssa Kabore (Burkina Faso)Kabore hasn’t had a sniff of first-team football since he joined Manchester City in 2020, but if he impresses during a loan move to newly-promoted Luton Town, Pep Guardiola may finally be convinced of his talents. The Hatters will be without him in January, with the 22 year old already picking up 30 international caps for his country.
Getty ImagesBryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)With Ivan Toney serving a suspension for breaching betting rules, the pressure was on Mbeumo at the start of the season. The Cameroonian has thrived under the spotlight, though, kicking off the campaign in impressive form.
GettyAndre Onana (Cameroon)After a high-profile falling out with Cameroon coach Rigobert Song over the team’s playing style saw him depart the World Cup early, Onana returned to the international fold in September. He helped the Indomitable Lions secure their place at the 2023 AFCON with Altay Bayindir likely to deputise in his absence for Manchester United this winter.
Getty ImagesYoane Wissa (DR Congo)Much like Mbeumo, Wissa has had additional goalscoring responsibility thrusted upon his shoulders in the absence of Toney. He too has not wilted under the pressure, and DR Congo will be hoping he can have a similar impact at AFCON.
GettyPelly Ruddock Mpanzu (DR Congo)Ruddock Mpanzu has enjoyed an incredible rise from non-league all the way to English football’s summit with Luton Town. Playing at the 2023 AFCON with his country would be another fairytale chapter in a quite remarkable career.
Getty.Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)Elneny was expected to depart Arsenal in the summer, only for the Gunners to surprisingly offer him a contract extension back in March. He scarcely plays for the club these days, as he eyes a move into coaching and he may regret his decision to stay put if he misses out on the Egypt squad this winter.
(C)Getty ImagesMohamed Salah (Egypt)Salah is in line to miss Liverpool’s Premier League clashes against Bournemouth, Chelsea and Arsenal if Egypt do well this winter. However, this could end up being Al-Ittihad’s problem, with the Saudi Pro League side determined to sign the forward for a world-record fee.
GettyThomas Partey (Ghana)The big-money arrivals of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz in the summer seemed to threaten Partey’s place in the Arsenal first team, particularly after a disappointing end to the 2022-23 season. But Arteta has kept faith with the Ghana star early on, fielding him as a nominal full-back. He will no doubt move back to the base of midfield for the Black Stars, though.
Getty ImagesAntoine Semenyo (Ghana)Semenyo has not quite taken the Premier League by storm since joining Bournemouth from Championship Bristol City last January, only scoring once in the 2022-23 season. His performances have been enough to keep him in the Ghana squad consistently since his debut, though.
Getty Images.Tariq Lamptey (Ghana)After bursting onto the scene during Project Restart, injuries – and the recent signing of James Milner – have hampered Lamptey’s progress more recently. Despite this, if he’s fit, Ghana boss Chris Hughton will no doubt select him in his AFCON squad.
Getty ImagesJeffrey Schlupp (Ghana)Schlupp was surprisingly left out of the Black Stars’ squad for the 2022 World Cup, but Hughton is reportedly keen to bring him back into the fold. Crystal Palace will be crossing their fingers that he opts to stay at home.
Getty ImagesJordan Ayew (Ghana)Ayew hailed the “beauty of football” after Ghana secured AFCON qualification with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Central African Republic. The experienced forward is not without his critics, but the Black Stars’ fourth-most capped player will be vital to their chances of success.
(C)GettyImagesMohammed Kudus (Ghana)West Ham did well to snap up Kudus this summer, with some of Europe’s top clubs tracking him over the past few years. Due to his late arrival, Hammers fans are yet to see the best of him, and they will also be deprived of his talents when he heads off to the 2023 AFCON.
Getty ImagesHamed Traore (Ivory Coast)Initially signed on loan from Sassuolo, Traore joined Bournemouth on a permanent basis in the summer and manager Andoni Iraola has been full of praise for the Ivorian. Competition for places up front is fierce in his national team, but keep up this form and he could start at his home tournament.
Getty ImagesSimon Adingra (Ivory Coast)Adingra is the latest in a long line of young stars off the Brighton production line. Snapped up for a pittance from Nordsjaelland, the Nigerian impressed on loan at the Seagulls’ sister club Union SG last season and is now back at the Amex. Playing in front of his home fans this winter will be the highlight of his fledgling career.
GettyAmad Diallo (Ivory Coast)With Manchester United looking fairly blunt up front to start the 2023-24 season, Amad actually has a decent chance of featuring semi-regularly for the Red Devils once he returns to full fitness. He’s also earned four caps for Ivory Coast since making his debut in 2021.
Getty ImagesMaxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast)Another of West Ham’s possible AFCON absentees is Cornet, who is certain to form a key part of Jean-Louis Gasset’s squad if fit. He has struggled to nail down a starting spot in east London since signing from Burnley, so the Hammers should not miss him massively.
GettyIbrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast)A deadline-day arrival from PSV Eindhoven, destructive midfielder Sangare looks like an intelligent pickup for Nottingham Forest. Ivory Coast respect his talents too, with the 25 year old earning over 30 caps for the Elephants so far.
Getty ImagesSerge Aurier (Ivory Coast)Aurier has been in excellent form to kick off the 2023-24 season, helping himself to a pair of assists against Sheffield United in an important 2-1 win. He will be one of the more experienced heads in the Ivory Coast squad as they head into a historic tournament.
Getty ImagesWilly Boly (Ivory Coast)Boly was a late arrival to the international fold, not making his Ivory Coast debut until 2020 having previously represented France at youth level. He is not their first-choice centre-back either, which will make it even more frustrating for Forest if he does end up travelling to the 2023 AFCON.
GettyCheick Doucoure (Mali)Linked with a move to Liverpool this summer, Doucoure ended up staying put at Crystal Palace – much to the delight of the club’s supporters. In worse news for Eagles fans, Roy Hodgson is set to be without his midfield talisman for the duration of Mali’s involvement in the tournament.
Getty ImagesIsmaila Coulibaly (Mali)Coulibaly was tipped to be a future star when he arrived at Bramall Lane back in 2020. After being sent out on loan to Belgian side Beerschot for two years, he returned to watch Sheffield United secure Championship promotion from afar – and his first-team chances look similarly remote this season. He could still sneak into the Mali squad, though.
Getty ImagesYves Bissouma (Mali)One of the many beneficiaries of Ange Postecoglou’s appointment as Tottenham manager in the summer, Bissouma has made a strong start to the season. He got into a bit of hot water over his time-keeping recently, but he is still bound to be a big miss for Spurs when he heads off to the tournament.
Getty ImagesBoubacar Traore (Mali)Traore impressed Wolves enough to earn himself a permanent move to the club following an initial loan spell last season. He’s far from a regular for Gary O’Neil, though, and may not even make the Mali squad this winter.
Getty ImagesNayef Aguerd (Morocco)Aguerd has been attracting transfer interest from some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs in recent times, which is testament to his strong start to life at West Ham during the 2022-23 campaign. The Hammers were not the best stocked at centre-back until the signing of Konstantinos Mavropanos this summer, a deal likely influenced by Aguerd’s probable AFCON-enforced absence.
Getty ImagesAnass Zaroury (Morocco)Zaroury did not get his Premier League career off to the best start, being shown a straight red card for a frustrated lunge during his side’s curtain raiser against Manchester City. He needs to show better form before the Morocco squad is selected with competition for places being fierce.
Getty ImagesFrank Onyeka (Nigeria)Onyeka has been a reliable operator for Brentford since they earned promotion to the Premier League in 2021. His performances have been recognised by Nigeria too, with Onyeka set to line up in midfield alongside the likes of Wilfred Ndidi and Joe Aribo in the Ivory Coast.
GettyAlex Iwobi (Nigeria)After representing England at youth level, Iwobi switched allegiances to Nigeria in 2015 and has since become a mainstay for the Super Eagles. They will be hoping his move to Fulham proves to be a smart decision.
Getty ImagesTaiwo Awoniyi (Nigeria)Nigeria’s strength in depth up front is quite incredible. Playing two strikers is rare in top-level football these days, but when you’ve got the likes of Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze, Gift Orban and Awoniyi to choose from, it makes perfect sense for Nigeria.
Getty ImagesEmmanuel Dennis (Nigeria)As the Super Eagles are so strong up front, Dennis might even miss out on the squad. If he wants to make it to the Ivory Coast, he’ll need his fortunes at Nottingham Forest to change considerably. A last-minute move to Turkey is his best bet.
GettyCalvin Bassey (Nigeria)Much was expected of Bassey when he joined Ajax in a Eredivisie-record deal for a defender. However, he underwhelmed last season and was swiftly sold on to Fulham, where he does not look like an automatic starter.
Getty ImagesOla Aina (Nigeria)Starting his career off at Chelsea, Aina made the bold decision to join Torino in 2019. After tasting Premier League relegation on loan at Fulham during the 2020-21 campaign, he will be hoping for better fortune this season – both at Nottingham Forest and for Nigeria.
GettyNicolas Jackson (Senegal)Jackson’s move to Chelsea in the summer came somewhat from left field, with the striker attracting the free-spending Blues’ attention with a glut of goals for Villarreal towards the end of last season. He is likely to start up front with Sadio Mane for Senegal this winter.
Getty ImagesIdrissa Gueye (Senegal)There had been murmurings that Gueye could retire from international duty, but he strongly batted away those rumours recently. It’s not great news for Everton who need all of their best players available as frequently as possible as they look set to battle relegation again this season.
Getty ImagesMoussa Niakhate (Senegal)A France Under-21 international, Niakhate declared for Senegal in March 2023. A regular starter for Nottingham Forest when he wasn’t injured last season, he has seen his playing time slashed this campaign, which could harm his chances of making the AFCON squad.
Getty ImagesCheikhou Kouyate (Senegal)A key player in Senegal’s 2021 AFCON triumph, Kouyate boasts close to 300 Premier League appearances for West Ham, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest. He’s 33 now, but remains a key figure for club and country.
Getty ImagesPape Matar Sarr (Senegal)Sarr had to be patient for his first-team chances last season despite Tottenham’s poor form. He’s one of Postecoglou’s most trusted lieutenants this campaign, though, and will likely clock up a century of Senegal caps before he retires.
Getty ImagesHannibal Mejbri (Tunisia)It was a bit of a surprise to see Mejbri remain at Old Trafford this summer with many expecting the forward to be sent out on loan. You never know, though. United’s issues up front could see the Tunisia international break into the first team if he impresses in training.
Getty ImagesAnis Ben Slimane (Tunisia)A summer recruit from Brondby in Denmark, Anis has scarcely featured for Sheffield United so far due to a hamstring injury. That issue saw him sit out of Tunisia’s September fixtures, but there’s no doubt he’ll be back in the mix for the tournament.