Africa Cup of Nations impact on the Premier League – Who is going? Who loses most players? What games will they miss?

The Africa Cup of Nations is back!

The season-disrupting tournament begins on January 13 with little regard for your ‘(European) football calendar’.

Players who had left the continent to ply their trade overseas have now been recalled to represent their countries almost slap-bang in the middle of the (European) season.

The biannual tournament traditionally takes place at this time of year, for reasons ranging from a more suitable climate in parts of the continent to avoiding a clash with the World Cup.

Initially held in even-numbered years, a shift occurred in 2013 which saw the tournament moved to odd-numbered years and in 2019, also to the (European) summer.

However, pandemics, postponements and changes of hosts have seen the two most recent editions of the tournament revert to their (European) wintery, even-numbered home – although this is just meant to be a temporary measure and we should expect June/July AFCONs henceforth from 2025 onwards.

But we shall wait and see…

Even though the Premier League has (sort of) started to implement something of a winter break in January, absences will still be felt and we take a look at who will feel them the most.

Despite a recent dip in form, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta’s midfield options remain fairly stacked with Elneny virtually never called up these days so his absence is unlikely to be felt too badly at the Emirates.

• Jan 20 – Crystal Palace (H)
• Jan 30 – Nottingham Forest (A)
• Feb 4 – Liverpool (H)
• Feb 11 – West Ham (A)

Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)

Villa’s only absence in Traore could have been an option for Unai Emery’s ever-improving side but has barely been in the manager’s plans so far this campaign.

• Jan 14 – Everton (A)
• Jan 27 – Chelsea (A) – FA Cup
• Jan 30 – Newcastle (H)
• Feb 3 – Sheffield United (A)
• Feb 11 – Manchester United (H)

Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Antoine Semenyo (Ghana)

The Cherries will be without two players who have helped them climb the table in recent months.

• Jan 21 – Liverpool (H)
• Jan 27 – Swansea (H) – FA Cup
• Feb 1 – West Ham (A)
• Feb 4 – Nottingham Forest (H)
• Feb 10 – Fulham (A)

Yoane Wissa (Congo), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria)

Two key components of Thomas Frank’s side could be missing for as many as six games.

• Jan 16 – Wolves (A) – FA Cup
• Jan 20 – Nottingham Forest (H)
• Jan 27 – FA Cup?
• Jan 31 – Tottenham (A)
• Feb 5 – Manchester City (H)
• Feb 10 – Wolves (A)

Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast)

An exciting prospect who has impressed at the AMEX this season but Roberto De Zerbi should have enough options to mitigate his absence. Although supposedly carrying an injury, the level of his participation in the tournament remains to be seen.

• Jan 22 – Wolves (H)
• Jan 27 – Sheffield United (A) – FA Cup
• Jan 30 – Luton (A)
• Feb 3 – Crystal Palace (H)
• Feb 10 – Tottenham (A)

Nicolas Jackson (Senegal)

Either a great opportunity to pick up some form elsewhere or disruption of his continued settling in period at Stamford Bridge. Time will tell. What is certain, however, is that the Blues will be light up front unless they dive into the transfer market, which would be hardly unlike them…

• Jan 13 – Fulham (H)
• Jan 23 – Middlesbrough (A)
• Jan 27 – Aston Villa (H) – FA Cup
• Jan 31 – Liverpool (A)
• Feb 4 – Wolves (H)
• Feb 12 – Crystal Palace (A)

A mainstay of the Palace first team. Roy Hodgson might have to look to some younger academy players finally.

• Jan 17 – Everton (A)
• Jan 20 – Arsenal (A)
• Jan 27 – FA Cup?
• Jan 30 – Sheffield United (H)
• Feb 3 – Brighton (A)
• Feb 12 – Chelsea (H)

Idrissa Gana Gueye (Senegal)

The midfielder could prove a huge miss for an Everton side who have recently found their rhythm under Sean Dyche.

• Jan 14 – Aston Villa (H)
• Jan 17 – Crystal Palace (H)
• Jan 27 – FA Cup?
• Jan 30 – Fulham (A)
• Feb 3 – Tottenham (H)
• Feb 10 – Manchester City (A)

Fode Ballo-Toure (Senegal), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)

Bassey and Iwobi’s absences could give Marco Silva something of a headache but the tournament could provide Ballo-Toure with some useful game time to play himself into consideration for the second half of the season.

• Jan 10 – Liverpool (A) – EFL Cup
• Jan 13 – Chelsea (A)
• Jan 24 – Liverpool (H) – EFL Cup
• Jan 27 – Newcastle (H) – FA Cup
• Jan 30 – Everton (H)
• Feb 3 – Burnley (A)
• Feb 10 – Bournemouth (H)

The current table-toppers without their best player will give huge encouragement to the chasing pack. However, Jurgen Klopp’s team have more than adequate back-up firepower in their arsenal.

• Jan 10 – Fulham (H) – EFL Cup
• Jan 21 – Bournemouth (A)
• Jan 24 – Fulham (A) – EFL Cup
• Jan 27 – Norwich/Bristol Rovers (H) – FA Cup
• Jan 31 – Chelsea (H)
• Feb 4 – Arsenal (A)
• Feb 10 – Burnley (H)

Issa Kabore (Burkina Faso)

The versatile right back has played his part in the Hatters’ remarkable debut season in the Premier League and will no doubt prove a loss to Rob Edwards’ side in the coming weeks.

• Jan 12 – Burnely (A)
• Jan 16 – Bolton (A) – FA Cup
• Jan 24 – Fulham (A) – EFL Cup
• Jan 27 – FA Cup?
• Jan 30 – Brighton (H)
• Feb 3 – Newcastle (A)
• Feb 10 – Sheffield United (H)

Andre Onana (Cameroon), Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)

An interesting situation. Onana will stick around for one more game as United host Tottenham, 24 hours before he was due to play Cameroon’s opening game against Guinea. Instead, he will depart after the Old Trafford showdown and link up with the Indomitable Lions afterwards, ahead of the match with Senegal on January 19. No such issues for Amrabat.

• Jan 14 – Tottenham (H)
• Jan 27 – Newport County/ Eastleigh (A) – FA Cup
• Feb 1 – Wolves (A)
• Feb 4 – West Ham (H)
• Feb 11 – Aston Villa (A)

Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast), Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast), Cheikou Kouyate (Senegal), Moussa Niakhate (Senegal), Ola Aina (Nigeria)

Not ideal for new boss Nuno Espirito Santo, who had just got his feet under the desk at the City Ground before having to say goodbye to seemingly half of his squad!

• Jan 17 – Blackpool (A) – FA Cup
• Jan 20 – Brentford (A)
• Jan 27 – FA Cup?
• Jan 30 – Arsenal (H)
• Feb 4 – Bournemouth (A)
• Feb 10 – Newcastle (H)

Anis Ben Slimane (Tunisia), Yasser Larouci (Algeria)

Neither player has been a nailed on starter for the Blades this season, and with returning Chris Wilder trying to shape his team, AFCON could actually prove a hindrance to their future chances at Bramall Lane.

• Jan 21 – West Ham (H)
• Jan 27 – Brighton (H) – FA Cup
• Jan 30 – Sheffield United (H)
• Feb 3 – Aston Villa (H)
• Feb 10 – Luton (A)

Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal), Yves Bissouma (Mali)

Essentially Spurs’ first choice midfield pair this campaign, and even with back-ups, missing these two will come as a blow for Ange Postecoglou, just as he is getting his side back on track.

• Jan 14 – Manchester United (A)
• Jan 27 – Manchester City (H) – FA Cup
• Jan 31 – Brentford (H)
• Feb 3 – Everton (A)
• Feb 10 – Brighton (H)

Nayef Aguerd (Morocco), Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)

Kudus has been one of the stand-out players, not just at West Ham but in the league in recent weeks, while Aguerd has been an assured presence at the back for the Hammers.

• Jan 16 – Bristol City (A) – FA Cup
• Jan 21 – Sheffield United (A)
• Jan 27 – FA Cup?
• Feb 1 – Bournemouth (H)
• Feb 4 – Manchester United (A)
• Feb 11 – Arsenal (H)

Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria), Boubacar Traore (Mali)

Two players who have contributed to Wolves’ healthy midtable position in different ways will be out of consideration for Gary O’Neil in the coming weeks.

• Jan 16 – Brentford (H) – FA Cup
• Jan 22 – Brighton (A)
• Jan 27 – FA Cup?
• Feb 1 – Manchester United (H)
• Feb 4 – Chelsea (A)
• Feb 10 – Brentford (H)