The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on January 13 when hosts Ivory Coast face Guinea-Bissau in the first game of the group stage.
By that time, most of the players involved will have spent a good week or so preparing for the tournament in their respective national camps.
By James Nalton
The tournament’s move to the winter from its initial calendar slot of summer 2023 (to avoid the rainy season in Ivory Coast and retaining the name for branding and sponsorship reasons) means it will once again be played in the middle of many domestic club seasons.
This will not be the case for the 2025 edition in Morocco, or for the 2027 tournament jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, but this rearranged 2023 tournament will cause some disruption at club level.
The latest a player will be involved is February 11, the day of the final. Being knocked out in the semi-finals on February 7 doesn’t mean a return home, either, as there is a third-place game on the 10th.
Senegal and Morocco are the favourites, followed by the likes of Algeria, hosts Ivory Coast, and Egypt, with Cameroon, Nigeria and Tunisia also in the mix according to bookmakers, so players from these nations could be missing for the longest amount of time.
AFCON can be unpredictable, though, especially given the decline in quality, or at least consistency, of some of the traditionally strong teams, so there could be surprising early exits as well as unexpected runs.
Here is a look at the Premier League players who will be missing club football in January, and potentially February.
Arsenal
🇪🇬 Mohamed Elneny
This tournament comes at an important moment in Arsenal’s season, but shouldn’t affect them too much.
Though their title challenge has fallen away somewhat in recent weeks, they are still in a good position to mount a renewed effort to dethrone defending champions Manchester City and current league leaders Liverpool.
The only player they will be missing to AFCON is Mohamed Elneny, the Egyptian defensive midfielder who has only played one minute of football in the league for Arsenal this season. He may give them one less rotation option in cup competitions, but Arsenal won’t miss a player who has barely played.
Aston Villa
🇧🇫 Bertrand Traoré
If Arsenal are considered to be in the Premier League title race, then second-place Aston Villa, three points ahead of them, must be included in that mix too.
They have made a brilliant start to life under manager Unai Emery, progressing in the Europa Conference League as well as doing well in the Premier League.
Like Arsenal, they do have a player making the trip to Ivory Coast, but it may not impact them too much.
Bertrand Traoré will join up with a Burkina Faso side where he is a star player, but he has not featured much for Villa due to injury or remaining on the bench in most games he has been available.
Bournemouth
🇧🇫 Dango Ouattara
🇬🇭 Antoine Semenyo
Bournemouth fans will be keen to monitor the progress of Ouattara, the left-footed 21-year-old who has appeared sporadically for his club but features regularly for Burkina Faso.
There might also be interest to see how their own team does without Semenyo who has started a number of games recently.
Brentford
🇨🇩 Yoane Wissa
🇳🇬 Frank Onyeka
Wissa has started all but one of Brentford’s Premier League games so far this season and should play a key role for Congo anywhere across the forward line, most likely from the right wing.
The depth and rotation option provided by Onyeka will also be missed as he joins up with Nigeria where he can be in and out of the XI, as is the case at his club.
Brighton
🇨🇮 Simon Adingra
Despite carrying a hamstring injury, Adingra has been called up by the hosts as he continues his recovery.
Head coach Jean-Louis Gasset will hope to have the winger available for selection once the tournament is underway, while Brighton and Roberto De Zerbi will just be hoping he returns injury-free.
Chelsea
🇸🇳 Nicolas Jackson
Nicolas Jackson’s finishing has been criticised during his time at Chelsea so far, but he put in a good performance, including a nice assist for Cole Palmer, in their recent game at Luton Town.
Despite his troubles in front of goal he remained a regular starter for Mauricio Pochettino’s side and played a role in their system even if not scoring.
He’ll now join up with a much-fancied Senegal side so could be set for a deep run in the tournament.
If he can break into the starting XI and get among the goals, or get some off the bench, it could be a useful confidence boost ahead of his return to club football.
Crystal Palace
🇬🇭 Jordan Ayew
The youngest of Ghana’s Ayew brothers can be a key player for both club and country when he’s on his game.
One of the most gifted African players of his generation, he has forged a career at the highest level in the Premier League, settling at Palace more than at any of his previous clubs.
Palace have an array of talent in attacking midfield and forward areas such as Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, Odsonne Édouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta, but their experienced teammate will be missed.
Everton
🇸🇳 Idrissa Gana Gueye
Everton have impressed since being hit with a ten-point deduction in the Premier League this season.
Though perhaps lower profile than other standout players like Abdoulaye Doucouré and Jarrad Branthwaite, Gana Gueye has played a key role in midfield during this good run.
With Doucouré injured and Gana in Ivory Coast, it could now be a tough few weeks for Everton who sit just above the relegation zone.
Fulham
🇸🇳 Fodé Ballo-Touré
🇳🇬 Calvin Bassey
🇳🇬 Alex Iwobi
Fulham have enjoyed some good moments in the Premier League of late, drawing many plaudits following their victory against Arsenal and 5-0 wins against both West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
Disappointing defeats to Newcastle, Burnley, and Bournemouth have punctuated these good results, spoiling their run, and their search for consistency will not be helped by the departure of attacking midfielder Iwobi and centre-back Bassey who join up with the Nigeria squad.
Liverpool
🇪🇬 Mohamed Salah
Liverpool will be one of the clubs most affected by this tournament, not in terms of numbers on their way to AFCON, but in terms of the individual quality they are losing.
The current league leaders will lose Salah who will be looking to win his first AFCON with Egypt, further cementing his legacy as one of the best African players of all time.
It remains to be seen whether Jürgen Klopp’s side can fill the void left by a player who tops the league for goals and assists. Whether they will still be top of the league on Salah’s return.
Manchester City have no players on international duty this month, so will be looking to use upcoming games to recover some ground.
Luton Town
🇧🇫 Issa Kaboré
Luton have been one of the feelgood stories of the Premier League this season, holding their own and playing some good football against some of the best teams in the world.
Kaboré has been dynamic in and out of possession down the right when selected by Rob Edwards and will be another player who could help Burkina Faso spring some surprises.
Manchester United
🇨🇲 André Onana
🇲🇦 Sofyan Amrabat
It will be a last-minute dash to Ivory Coast for Onana, who will play in Manchester United’s game against Tottenham on January 14, one day before Cameroon’s opener against Guinea.
Onana is back in the Cameroon setup after a falling-out with the president of the Cameroon Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o, in 2022, but the smoothing of the relationship appears to have given him and United some leeway on his arrival time.
Amrabat will be looking to regain some of the form with his national team which attracted United to him in the first place.
Nottingham Forest
🇨🇮 Serge Aurier
🇨🇮 Willy Boly
🇨🇮 Ibrahim Sangaré
🇸🇳 Cheikou Kouyaté
🇸🇳 Moussa Niakhaté
🇳🇬 Ola Aina
Forest are the Premier League team most represented at AFCON with six players involved.
They have a big presence at hosts Ivory Coast and will lose a good chunk of their recent back four in Boly, Niakhate, and Aina.
They have performed well under new manager Nuno Espírito Santo, and now their squad depth will be truly tested, especially in those defensive areas.
Sheffield United
🇩🇿 Yasser Larouci
🇹🇳 Anis Ben Slimane
Slimane has enjoyed a run in the team of late under Chris Wilder, Larouci less so. Neither are guaranteed starters with their respective national teams, but if they can get game time the tournament could be good for both.
Tottenham Hotspur
🇸🇳 Pape Matar Sarr
🇲🇱 Yves Bissouma
Pape Matar Sarr is emerging as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and will be a big miss for Spurs as they look to break into the top four.
The loss in midfield compounded by Bissouma’s absence will add to an already injury-hit squad, which will also lose talisman Son Heung-min to the Asian Cup, which runs across a similar timeframe.
West Ham United
🇲🇦 Nayef Aguerd
🇬🇭 Mohammed Kudus
The departure of Kudus for a few games is one of the biggest AFCON Premier League losses.
He’s been a key part of the West Ham team since coming into the side and has been an exciting player for the fans to watch. They will miss him greatly.
Aguerd, meanwhile, has been a more than useful squad member, playing regularly in Europe and the league up until recently.
Wolves
🇲🇱 Boubacar Traoré
🇩🇿 Rayan Aït-Nouri
The 22-year-old Traoré is looking to break into the first team on a regular basis at both club and international level.
It remains to be seen whether he will see minutes with Mali, but he will be hoping to add to his solitary senior cap. Wolves might hope he gets some minutes too, but they’d rather have Aït-Nouri playing minutes for them at this moment in time.
(Images from IMAGO)
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