List of all 2023 AFCON Players set to miss Premier League action: The Premier League is bracing for a turbulent January and February with the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicking off, and several clubs are set to feel the impact as they say goodbye to key players representing their nations on the continental stage.
This sudden change in player availability will undoubtedly shake up the league and leave fans and managers on the edge of their seats wondering how their teams will cope with the absence of their brightest stars.
There is also confusion for some teams since the Asian Cup is also scheduled between Friday January 12 and Saturday February 10.
CAN 2023 was initially scheduled to take place in June and July to avoid any conflict with European clubs’ calendars, but concerns over bad weather in Ivory Coast forced the postponement, pushing the tournament to start from January 13 to February 11. This has raised a difficulty for Premier League clubs, particularly those that rely heavily on African talent.
List of all 2023 AFCON Players set to miss Premier League action
Liverpool are a club that will feel the absence of their best player. The Merseysiders will miss their Egyptian wizard, Mohamed Salah, who will represent Egypt in his fourth AFCON tournament. Liverpool will also miss the services of defensive midfielder Wataru Endo, who will feature in the Asian Cup.
Arsenal will miss Mohamed Elneny, even though he has seen very little in the Premier League this season. Meanwhile, Takehiro Tomiyasu will be away representing Japan at the Asian Cup. Everton’s Idrissa Gueye will join Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson in the Senegalese squad aiming to defend their title.
Several English Premier League teams will be impacted by the temporary departure of key players for the upcoming AFCON 2023 tournament. Aston Villa is not worried about Bertrand Traoré’s absence, while Brighton & Hove Albion will miss Simon Adingra’s good form but have concerns about Kaoru Mitoma’s departure.
Crystal Palace will miss Jordan Ayew, and Luton Town will feel the absence of Issa Kabore. Manchester United will see Sofyan Amrabat and Andre Onana leaving temporarily. Tottenham Hotspur is dealing with an injury crisis compounded by Son Heung-min’s absence.
West Ham United will cope without Mohammed Kudus and Nayef Aguerd, but Said Benrahma was not called up. Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Dango Outtara will represent Ghana and Burkina Faso, respectively. Wolves’ Rayan Aït-Nouri and Boubacar Traore will not be sorely missed, while Sheffield United will manage without Yasser Larouci and Anis Ben Slimane.
Brentford faces a challenge without Frank Onyeka, Yoane Wissa, and the injured Bryan Mbeumo. Fulham will be without Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, and Fode Ballo-Toure. Nottingham Forest will bid farewell to six key players for international duty, including Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Ibrahim Sangaré, Moussa Niakhaté, Cheikhou Kouyaté, and Ola Aina.
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