The revised schedule for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is about to have an effect on practically each Premier League group, with the event set to run from December 21 till January 18.
Chelsea, Leeds United, Bournemouth, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and title favourites Arsenal are the one groups that shouldn’t have any gamers jetting off to Morocco in a couple of weeks.
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Nonetheless, 2025/26 shock bundle Sunderland and relegation-battling Wolverhampton Wanderers are among the many groups that can lose essentially the most gamers to the event.
These gamers may miss as much as six video games in all competitions, relying on how their international locations carry out at AFCON 2025. Learn on as we have a look at which groups are as a consequence of lose gamers this month.
Sunderland – 6
Sunderland have taken the Premier League by storm this season, however that momentum may take a nose-dive over the festive interval with the Black Cats set to lose seven gamers to AFCON.
Morocco winger Chemsdine Talbi, Senegal midfielder Habib Diarra, Mozambique full-back Reinildo, Burkina Faso ahead Bertrand Traore and DR Congo pair Arthur Masuaku and Noah Sadiki are all set to signify their international locations this winter.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers – 3
Wolves have solely taken two factors from 15 league video games and are on target to report the worst level tally in Premier League historical past.
Nonetheless, the Midlands membership may lose simply two gamers to AFCON, with solely Zimbabwe midfielder Tawanda Chirewa and Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Agbadou set to jet off to Morocco.
Manchester United – 3
Manchester United appear to have turned a nook below Ruben Amorim, however they’ll be with out Cameroon ahead Bryan Mbeumo, Ivory Coast winger Amad Diallo, and Morocco’s Noussair Mazraoui over the festive interval.
Fulham – 3
Fulham has develop into a secure haven for Nigerian gamers over the previous couple of years, however Marco Silva should get by the festive interval with out midfielder Alex Iwobi, defender Calvin Bassey, and winger Samuel Chukwueze.
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Iwobi and Bassey are first-team regulars for the Cottagers, whereas Chukwueze’s current kind has made him extra in style among the many followers on the West London membership.
Burnley – 3
Relegation battling Burnley will lose three gamers to AFCON, with former England Below-21 defender Axel Tuanzebe set to function for DR Congo on the event.
Striker Lyle Foster and midfielder Hannibal Mejbri have additionally been referred to as up by South Africa and Tunisia, respectively.
Nottingham Forest – 2
Nottingham Forest have been on the upswing since Sean Dyche stepped in, however they’re additionally set to be affected by AFCON, with two gamers set to go away the squad.
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Ivory Coast duo Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly have been referred to as up, however Nigerian internationals Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi have been omitted.
Everton – 2
Everton have raised a couple of eyebrows this season as they appear to push for a spot in Europe below David Moyes’ management.
They’ll should additional these ambitions with out Senegalese duo Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye not less than by the festive interval.
Brentford – 2
Brentford are poised to lose two gamers to AFCON.
Membership-record signing Dango Ouattara might be on obligation with Burkina Faso, whereas Frank Onyeka has been named within the Nigerian squad regardless of taking part in simply 88 minutes of Premier League soccer for the Bees to date this season.
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Manchester Metropolis – 2
Title-chasing Manchester Metropolis will lose Egyptian ahead Omar Marmoush and Algerian defender Rayan Ait-Nouri to AFCON.
Happily for Pep Guardiola’s aspect, neither of these gamers have managed to determine themselves as first-team regulars on the Etihad Stadium.
Tottenham Hotspur – 2
Tottenham Hotspur will miss two midfielders throughout the AFCON event, with Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma set to signify Senegal and Mali, respectively.
Bissouma has had his points off the pitch and is but to play a single minute for Spurs, however that hasn’t affected his place within the nationwide group.
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West Ham United – 2
Nuno Espirito Santo has overseen a resurgence at West Ham United that has improved their probabilities of avoiding relegation.
Nonetheless, he has to discover a resolution to his defensive line-up with beginning full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf set to function for DR Congo and Senegal, respectively.
Brighton & Hove Albion – 1
Brighton & Hove Albion should discover a option to cope with out extremely sought-after midfielder Carlos Baleba, who is about to signify Cameroon at AFCON.
The 21-year-old has began practically each sport for Brighton this season.
Crystal Palace – 1
FA Cup holders Crystal Palace have a couple of African gamers on their roster, however Oliver Glasner’s aspect will solely lose Ismaila Sarr to AFCON.
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However, it’ll be an enormous blow contemplating Sarr has scored eight objectives in all competitions for the Eagles this season.
Liverpool – 1
Liverpool followers could also be pleased to see the again of Mohamed Salah, who is about to affix the Egyptian nationwide group at AFCON after his blockbuster interview.
He has already been remoted from the Liverpool squad, and his future on the membership might be determined within the coming weeks.