The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is finally here, and Premier League clubs are about to feel the impact of losing some of their key players. With the tournament kicking off in Morocco this weekend, managers will have to get creative to keep their teams performing at their best. Let’s break down which clubs will be most affected and what it might mean for them.
Which Premier League Clubs Are Losing Players?
Many teams will have stars heading off to AFCON, and the effect will vary depending on how important these players are to their squad. Here’s a handy overview:
| Club | Players Called Up | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Reinildo Mandava, Bertrand Traore, Chemsdine Talbi, Habib Diarra | 🔴 High |
| Burnley | Axel Tuanzebe, Lyle Foster, Hannibal Mejbri | 🟠 Medium |
| Fulham | Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Calvin Bassey | 🔴 High |
| Manchester United | Bryan Mbeumo, Amad, Noussair Mazraoui | 🔴 High |
| Brentford | Dango Ouattara, Frank Onyeka | 🟡 Low |
| Everton | Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye | 🟠 Medium |
| Manchester City | Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri | 🟢 Minimal |
| Nottingham Forest | Willy Boly, Ibrahim Sangare | 🟡 Low |
| Tottenham Hotspur | Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr | 🟡 Low |
| West Ham | Aaron Wan-Bissaka, El Hadji Malick Diouf | 🟠 Medium |
| Wolves | Tawanda Chirewa, Emmanuel Agbadou | 🟡 Low |
| Liverpool | Mohamed Salah | 🟡 Low |
- Sunderland – Losing six key players, including midfield engine Sadiki and attackers Talbi and Traore, could slow their momentum and leave gaps in defense.
- Burnley – Missing a solid defender and two attackers makes their fight to escape the relegation zone even tougher.
- Fulham – Losing Iwobi, Chukwueze, and Bassey weakens both attack and defense, making matches harder to control.
- Manchester United – Without top scorer Mbeumo and creative midfielder Amad, their attack could struggle, while Mazraoui’s absence affects defensive options.
- Brentford – Ouattara’s absence affects the attack slightly, though the squad has alternatives; Onyeka’s limited playtime softens the impact.
- Everton – Losing Ndiaye and Gueye reduces goal threat and midfield stability, which could affect control in matches.
- Manchester City – Minimal disruption expected; squad depth covers absences well.
- Nottingham Forest – Sangare’s absence in midfield could affect balance, but Boly’s lack of regular appearances limits the impact.
- Tottenham Hotspur – Sarr’s absence may slightly reduce midfield options, while Bissouma’s absence has little effect.
- West Ham – Losing both full-backs limits attacking width and defensive stability, requiring reshuffles.
- Wolves – Agbadou’s absence weakens defense, but Chirewa rarely plays, so overall impact is limited.
- Liverpool – Salah’s absence is a major blow, removing their top scorer and key attacking threat.
Sunderland
Sunderland have been a surprise package this season, flying high after promotion. But AFCON call-ups could slow their momentum.
Key Players Missing:
- Noah Sadiki (DR Congo): Midfield engine, covers huge ground
- Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo): Squad player, limited appearances
- Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique): Reliable defender, featured in most games
- Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso): Forward, recently scored first goal
- Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco): Regular attacker, key for goals
- Habib Diarra (Senegal): Expensive signing, recovering from injury
What It Means: Sunderland will feel it both in attack and defense, losing the players who create chances and protect the backline.
Burnley
Burnley are already fighting for points to climb out of the bottom three. AFCON absences could make life even harder.
- Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo): Strong central defender, organizes backline
- Lyle Foster (South Africa): Attacking option, contributes to goals
- Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia): Midfield creator
Effect: Without these three, Burnley could struggle to keep clean sheets and score, making each game a tougher battle.
Fulham
Fulham rely heavily on their Nigerian stars for both goals and defensive solidity.
- Alex Iwobi (Nigeria): Key in attack
- Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria): Adds pace and goals
- Calvin Bassey (Nigeria): Defensive mainstay
Manchester United
United will be missing their top scorer and one of their most creative players at a crucial stage of the season.
- Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon): Club top scorer
- Amad (Ivory Coast): Creative midfielder
- Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco): Defensive rotation option
Potential Outcome: Expect United to struggle to score and might need tactical adjustments to cover the gaps.
Other Teams to Watch
Not every club will be hit equally by AFCON call-ups. Some teams face minor disruptions, while others might lose players who play key but less obvious roles. Here’s how some of the remaining Premier League clubs could be affected:
- Brentford: Losing two players may not dramatically change the team’s performance. They have reliable options to cover goals and midfield work, but the squad might be a little less flexible when juggling multiple competitions.
- Liverpool: With just one player absent, the effect is mostly on goal-scoring. Salah’s absence will be noticeable in attack, but Liverpool’s deep squad and creative options can help fill the gap.
- Wolves: The defensive loss could make certain games trickier, especially against counter-attacking teams. Other areas of the pitch remain stable, so they are less vulnerable overall.
- Nottingham Forest: The team will feel some impact in midfield, which may affect their control and passing rhythm, but defense and attack should hold up well.
- Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs have squad depth to rotate players and maintain consistency. The call-ups may slightly limit options in midfield, but overall the team should manage without major disruption.
- Manchester City: Minimal impact thanks to one of the deepest squads in the league. Tactical rotations and bench options allow them to maintain form even while key players are away.
Takeaway: For these clubs, AFCON is more of a challenge in squad management rather than a full-blown crisis. Managers will need to adjust line-ups, but the overall effect on results is likely to be modest.
Clubs Mostly Unaffected by AFCON
Some Premier League teams benefit from having no players at AFCON, giving them a mid-season advantage:
- Arsenal: No call-ups → more consistency in title race
- Chelsea, Leeds, Newcastle: Full squads available
- Bournemouth: Top scorer Antoine Semenyo not at AFCON; Amine Adli also stays
Takeaway: These clubs can focus entirely on league games without worrying about key absences.
Final Thoughts
AFCON 2025 is more than a celebration of African football, it’s also a test for Premier League managers. Teams will need to:
- Rotate players wisely
- Adjust tactics to cover missing stars
- Rely on squad depth to stay competitive
Bottom line: Clubs with many AFCON call-ups (Sunderland, Fulham, Man Utd) could see mid-season dips, while teams with no call-ups (Arsenal, Chelsea, Bournemouth) may gain an unexpected edge.