The 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) will occur between January 13 and February 11. As usual, there will be a strong Premier League presence at the tournament, which will be hosted by Ivory Coast.
This is how Premier League players could take part in the competition and how this could impact their clubs.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is one of the stars set to take part in the AFCON 2024
ARSENAL
Players that could be at the tournament:
Thomas Partey – Ghana
Mohamed Elneny – Egypt
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 20: Crystal Palace (home), Jan 30: Nottingham Forest (away), Feb 4: Liverpool (home), Feb 11: West Ham (away)
Arsenal could potentially be without two midfielders, although it shouldn’t impact Mikel Arteta’s team selection too much as Ghana’s Thomas Partey has struggled with injuries.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Mohamed Elneny is a squad player for the Gunners and has also had a series of injury problems. Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey will represent Ghana at the tournament if he is passed fit
ASTON VILLA
Bertrand Traore – Burkina Faso
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 14: Everton (away), Jan 30: Newcastle (home). Feb 3: Sheffield United (away), Feb 11: Manchester United (home)
Bertrand Traore has been on the fringes for Aston Villa this season, so it won’t be a major problem if he is away at the tournament with Burkina Faso.
BOURNEMOUTH
Dango Ouattara – Burkina Faso
Hamed Traore – Ivory Coast
Antoine Semenyo – Ghana
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 21: Liverpool (home), Feb 1: West Ham (away), Feb 4: Nottingham Forest (home), Feb 10: Fulham (away)
Bournemouth could have three players at the tournament.
Antoine Semenyo, who has featured heavily in the Premier League, will be missed, while Burkina Faso’s Dango Ouattara is also a useful member of the squad. Hamed Traore, meanwhile, has been on the periphery of proceedings.
There are some tough games for Bournemouth during this period, including Liverpool at home.
BRENTFORD
Yoane Wissa – DR Congo
Frank Onyeka – Nigeria
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 20: Nottingham Forest (home), Jan 31: Tottenham (away), Feb 5: Manchester City (home), Feb 10: Wolves (away)
Bryan Mbeumo will not be able to represent Cameroon because of an ankle injury that could keep him out for three months.
Brentford could still be without Yoane Wissa and Frank Onyeka due to commitments with DR Congo and Nigeria respectively, which will be a source of frustration for Thomas Frank.
BRIGHTON
Tariq Lamptey – Ghana
Carlos Baleba – Cameroon
Simon Adingra – Ivory Coast
Samy Chouchane – Tunisia
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 22: Wolves (home), Jan 30: Luton (away), Feb 3: Crystal Palace (home), Feb 10: Tottenham (away)
Tariq Lamptey has been struggling with an injury, so it remains to be seen if he will be called up by Ghana.
Losing Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, who has looked dangerous this season, will be a concern, while Carlos Baleba could also be absent along with academy player Samy Chouchane.
BURNLEY
Anass Zaroury – Morocco
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 15: Luton (home), Jan 31: Manchester City (away), Feb 3: Fulham (home), Feb 10: Liverpool (away)
Burnley shouldn’t be too hard hit by the Africa Cup of Nations, although there is a possibility that Anass Zaroury could make the Morocco squad.
Lyle Foster was named in South Africa’s preliminary squad for the tournament. However, Burnley manager Vincent Kompany said that Foster will not take part.
Foster took a break from football to have specialist treatment for his mental wellbeing, before returning to the fold against Everton last week.
CHELSEA
Nicolas Jackson – Senegal
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 13: Fulham (home), Jan 23: Middlesbrough (Carabao Cup second leg), Jan 31: Liverpool (away), Feb 4: Wolves (home), Feb 12: Crystal Palace (away).
Nicolas Jackson has been the main striker for Chelsea so far this season but he is set to represent Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations. As a result, Armando Broja may need to step up for the Blues unless they sign another forward.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Jordan Ayew – Ghana
Jeffrey Schlupp – Ghana
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 20: Arsenal (away), Jan 30: Sheffield United (home). Feb 3: Brighton (away), Feb 12: Chelsea (home)
At the age of 32, Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew still features prominently for Ghana, with 90 caps to his name. He could therefore miss Palace’s clashes against Arsenal and Chelsea.
Cheick Doucoure would have represented Mali but is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a ruptured Achilles.
Jeffrey Schlupp has 20 caps for Ghana but hasn’t been called up since 2021.
EVERTON
Abdoulaye Doucoure – Mali
Idrissa Gueye – Senegal
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 14: Aston Villa (home), Jan 30: Fulham (away), Feb 3: Tottenham (home), Feb 10: Manchester City (away).
Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure could make the Mali squad but has only been capped twice by his country.
In contrast, Idrissa Gueye is a key figure for Senegal and is the record cap holder for his country with over 100.
There are some daunting fixtures for Everton during this period, including Tottenham at home and Manchester City away.
FULHAM
Calvin Bassey – Nigeria
Fode Ballo-Toure – Senegal
Alex Iwobi – Nigeria
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 13: Chelsea (away), Jan 24: Liverpool (Carabao Cup second leg), Jan 30: Everton (home), Feb 3: Burnley (away), Feb 10: Bournemouth (home)
Fulham are set to be impacted by the absence of Nigeria duo Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey. They could be sorely missed during the game away to Chelsea.
Fode Ballo-Toure could also be called up by Senegal, but the left-back hasn’t been heavily involved for Fulham. Alex Iwobi is set to represent Nigeria along with his Fulham team-mate Calvin Bassey
LIVERPOOL
Mohamed Salah – Egypt
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 21: Bournemouth (away), Jan 24: Fulham (Carabao Cup second leg), Jan 31: Chelsea (home). Feb 4: Arsenal (away), Feb 10: Burnley (home)
Perhaps the most high-profile Premier League absentee during the tournament will be Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who is set to captain Egypt.
Jurgen Klopp will hope that his squad will be able to cope without the winger but Liverpool have big games during the tournament including Chelsea at home and Arsenal away.
Cameroonian defender Joel Matip is sidelined with a cruciate ligament tear but is retired from international duty in any case.
LUTON
Issa Kabore – Burkina Faso
Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu – DR Congo
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 15: Burnley (away), Jan 30: Brighton (home), Feb 3: Newcastle (away), Feb 10: Sheffield United (home)
Luton face the possibility of being without Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, who could be in the DR Congo squad. It’s also possible Issa Kabore could be selected by Burkina Faso.
However, they will be able to retain the services of Marvelous Nakamba, with Zimbabwe not at the tournament.
MANCHESTER CITY
No players at the tournament
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 13: Newcastle (away), Jan 31: Burnley (home), Feb 5: Brentford (away), Feb 10: Everton (home)
Pep Guardiola’s side won’t be impacted by the tournament whatsoever and will hope that having the majority of their squad available will help them build momentum.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Andre Onana – Cameroon
Hannibal Mejbri – Tunisia
Sofyan Amrabat – Morocco
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 14: Tottenham (home), Feb 1: Wolves (away), Feb 4: West Ham (home), Feb 11: Aston Villa (away)
Although Andre Onana hasn’t exactly set the world alight since joining Manchester United, the absence of his first-choice goalkeeper would still be an issue for Erik ten Hag if he’s called up for Cameroon.
Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat is also set to be away with Morocco and he could be joined by youngster Hannibal Mejbri. United’s fixture list during AFCON includes Tottenham away.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
No players at the tournament
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 13: Man City (home), Jan 30: Aston Villa (away), Feb 3: Luton (home), Feb 10: Nottingham Forest (away)
Newcastle have been rather thin on the ground recently in terms of squad depth, so Eddie Howe will be thankful that he won’t lose any players to the Africa Cup of Nations.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Ibrahim Sangare – Ivory Coast
Cheikhou Kouyate – Senegal
Moussa Niakhate – Senegal
Serge Aurier – Ivory Coast
Willy Boly – Ivory Coast
Ola Aina – Nigeria
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 20: Brentford (away), Jan 30: Arsenal (home), Feb 4: Bournemouth (away), Feb 10: Newcastle (home)
Out of all the Premier League teams, it seems likely that Nottingham Forest will suffer the most as a result of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Although Nigeria striker Taiwo Awoniyi is likely to miss the tournament through injury, Forest could still be without six players.
Serge Aurier, Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare are set to represent Ivory Coast, while Cheikhou Kouyate and Moussa Niakhate could be with Senegal and Ola Aina could be with Nigeria.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Ismaila Coulibaly – Mali
Anis Ben-Slimane – Morocco
Yasser Larouci – Algeria
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 21: West Ham (home), Jan 30: Crystal Palace (away), Feb 3: Aston Villa (home), Feb 10: Luton (away)
Sheffield United could lose Anis Ben-Slimane and Ismaila Coulibaly to the tournament, while Yasser Larouci recently made his debut for Algeria. Benie Traore has played for Ivory Coast U23s but has yet to represent his country at senior level.
TOTTENHAM
Yves Bissouma – Mali
Pape Matar Sarr – Senegal
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 14: Manchester United (away), Jan 31: Brentford (home), Feb 3: Everton (away), Feb 10: Brighton (home)
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has had a lot of experience of dealing with absentees this season and he could miss two midfielders during the tournament.
Yves Bissouma is set to represent Mali, while Pape Matar Sarr could be with Senegal. Tottenham face Manchester United away shortly after AFCON starts. Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma is poised to be part of the Mali squad at the tournament
WEST HAM
Mohammed Kudus – Ghana
Maxwell Cornet – Ivory Coast
Said Benrahma – Algeria
Nayef Aguerd – Morocco
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 21: Sheffield United (away), Feb 1: Bournemouth (home), Feb 4: Manchester United (away), Feb 11: Arsenal (away)
The Africa Cup of Nations could cause some problems for West Ham in January, especially as Mohammed Kudus is likely to be missing.
Nayef Aguerd and Said Benrahma could also be unavailable and it’s possible Maxwel Cornet, who hasn’t played much for the Hammers this season, could be called up by Ivory Coast.
WOLVES
Rayan Ait-Nouri – Algeria
Boubacar Traore – Mali
Fixtures during AFCON: Jan 22: Brighton (away), Feb 1: Manchester United (home), Feb 4: Chelsea (away), Feb 10: Brentford (home)
Wolves will have to deal with the absence of Algeria international Rayan Ait-Nouri, while Boubacar Traore will be looking to get into the Mali squad. Manchester United and Chelsea are amongst Wolves’ opponents during this period.
