Written By | International News Reporter
Mbeumo, Salah and Marmoush are aming players ready for AFCON
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AFCON 2025
Up to 43 Premier League players could miss part of the season as they travel to represent their countries at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Manchester United’s new signing Bryan Mbuemo headline the list of big-name Premier League players set to feature at the tournament.
Afcon, held every two years, often creates selection headaches for clubs during the winter period, with key players unavailable during a congested fixture schedule. The upcoming edition in Morocco will run from Sunday, 21 December 2025 to Sunday, 18 January 2026.
Fifty Premier League players hail from African nations, but with Ghana, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau failing to qualify, several top-flight stars — including Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo — will not participate.
Three players have also been left out of their national squads: Yoane Wissa, Blondy Nna Noukeu, and Jackson Tchatchoua.
A total of six Premier League matchweeks, the FA Cup third round, and the EFL Cup semi-final first legs fall within the Afcon period, meaning players could miss up to eight matches.
Key Premier League players likely to be called up
Alongside Salah, Egypt have named Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush in their provisional squad.
The DR Congo have excluded Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa, who has yet to play this season due to injury.
Senegal could call up Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye of Everton, as well as West Ham’s new left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf. Tottenham midfielders Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr may represent Mali and Senegal respectively.
Bissouma may represent Senegal
Which clubs are affected most?
Sunderland could lose as many as eight players, making them the most affected Premier League side.
Wolves may also see several departures, with four players potentially selected.
Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, both of whom will also be competing in European competitions this season, each have four potential Afcon call-ups.
Brighton stand out as the only club with multiple African players whose nations did not qualify.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds currently have no African players in their first-team squads.
Which nations are best represented?
Of the 24 competing countries, 15 have at least one Premier League representative.
Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa and Mozambique each have one Premier League player.
Premier League players confirmed for Afcon
Three nations — Cameroon, DR Congo and South Africa — have already confirmed their squads, meaning six Premier League players are guaranteed to participate:
Premier League players not going to Afcon
Players whose nations failed to qualify:
