More than 30 Premier League stars head to Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving clubs to juggle fixtures, form and fragile squad depth.
Below is a spirited, bite-sized ranking of the 32 Premier League players bound for AFCON, ordered from least disruptive to most urgently missed, weighing length of absence, fixture difficulty and replacement quality.
32. Yves Bissouma — Mali / Tottenham Hotspur
Once a midfield mainstay, now sidelined at Spurs. AFCON offers a reset and a shop window ahead of a likely January exit.
31. Willy Boly — Ivory Coast / Nottingham Forest
A peripheral figure this season; a surprise call-up that could revive a career or simply provide minutes.
30. Tawanda Chirewa — Zimbabwe / Wolverhampton Wanderers
Just 21 minutes of Premier League action so far. International minutes in Morocco could be priceless for his development.
29. Habib Diarra — Senegal / Sunderland
A puzzling selection while injured. If rushed back, it’s a gamble; if managed, it could kickstart his recovery.
28. Frank Onyeka — Nigeria / Brentford
A bit-part player desperate for exposure. AFCON is a chance to remind suitors of his worth.
27. Arthur Masuaku — DR Congo / Sunderland
A veteran waiting in the wings who now misses the moment his club needs him most.
26. Rayan Aït-Nouri — Algeria / Manchester City
Stalled by injury and competition, Aït-Nouri could return from AFCON sharper and ready to stake a claim.
25. Axel Tuanzebe — Congo DR / Burnley
Has started enough to matter but hasn’t convinced as a top-flight centre-back; Burnley have cover.
24. Chemsdine Talbi — Morocco / Sunderland
A promising right-sided option yet to fully adapt to the Premier League; his absence compounds Sunderland’s attacking reshuffle.
23. Bertrand Traoré — Burkina Faso / Sunderland
Experienced and influential off the pitch, Traoré’s leadership will be missed even if his on-field returns are modest.
22. Omar Marmoush — Egypt / Manchester City
A talented forward in a slump; a strong AFCON could be the spark Marmoush needs to reignite his City career.
21. Hannibal Mejbri — Tunisia / Burnley
A creative spark who hasn’t hit form this season. Burnley will feel the loss of his energy, though structurally they can cope.
20. Carlos Baleba — Cameroon / Brighton
A regular starter under pressure. AFCON might be the reset Brighton hope for as other midfield options wait in the wings.
19. Dango Ouattara — Burkina Faso / Brentford
Electric but inconsistent; his absence could be a blessing in disguise for both player and club.
18. Reinildo Mandava — Mozambique / Sunderland
A settled left-back whose short-term absence stings, though Mozambique’s prospects suggest a limited time away.
17. Noussair Mazraoui — Morocco / Manchester United
Not nailed on at Old Trafford, but his tactical nous and right-sided control will be missed—especially with Amad Diallo also away.
16. Lyle Foster — South Africa / Burnley
Struggling for goals in a team already low on firepower, Burnley can ill afford to lose him during a bleak run.
15. Pape Matar Sarr — Senegal / Tottenham Hotspur
A dynamic youngster yet to cement a starting role. Spurs have depth, but his energy and potential will be missed.
14. Emmanuel Agbadou — Ivory Coast / Wolves
A regular in a leaky defence; Wolves have cover, but Agbadou’s absence won’t help a backline that’s already under pressure.
13. Aaron Wan-Bissaka — DR Congo / West Ham United
Far from his best this season, Wan-Bissaka’s defensive solidity is still valuable; West Ham have options, but his experience counts.
12. Samuel Chukwueze — Nigeria / Fulham
Chukwueze arrives in Morocco at the peak of his Premier League form, with three assists and two goals in his last five games, making this the worst possible timing for a break. With Alex Iwobi also called up and both Ryan Sessegnon and Antonee Robinson sidelined by injury, Fulham will be painfully light on the left flank for the coming weeks.
11. Ismaïla Sarr — Senegal / Crystal Palace
A regular in Palace’s starting XI, Sarr’s end product has been patchy, but his raw pace and directness are irreplaceable. Oliver Glasner will struggle to replicate that threat, and Eddie Nketiah could find opportunity knocking—if he can stay fit.
10. Ibrahim Sangaré — Ivory Coast / Nottingham Forest
Sangaré has re-established himself as Forest’s midfield metronome under Sean Dyche after a rocky spell under the previous regime. Ryan Yates’ injury compounds the timing, and with tough fixtures looming, Sangaré’s absence stings—though he leaves on a high after a two-assist, one-goal display against Spurs.
9. Idrissa Gana Gueye — Senegal / Everton
Despite controversy and a red card incident, Gueye remains a defensive cornerstone for Everton. With a gruelling run of fixtures ahead and the midfielder likely away for most of the month, the Toffees will miss his shielding presence; Tim Iroegbunam or James Garner face a tall order to replicate his influence.
8. Amad Diallo — Cote d’Ivoire / Manchester United
Not yet the breakout star some expected under Amorim, Amad is nonetheless a regular whose versatility fits the manager’s tactical blueprint. With Mazraoui also absent, United will feel the squeeze in wingback areas.
7. Mohamed Salah — Egypt / Liverpool
Salah ranks high despite recent tensions with Arne Slot and a public airing of grievances; his seven goal contributions this season still matter. His absence could paradoxically accelerate Liverpool’s post‑Salah planning, but on the pitch his finishing and experience will be sorely missed.
6. El Hadji Malick Diouf — Senegal / West Ham
A bright start to his Premier League career, Diouf has already registered three assists and turned heads despite West Ham’s struggles. If Senegal reach the final he’ll miss marquee clashes with Manchester City and Spurs, and replacements like Walker‑Peters or Igor Julio will be awkward fits in Nuno’s system.
5. Noah Sadiki — DR Congo / Sunderland
A breakout star in Sunderland’s impressive return, Sadiki has stamped himself among the best young defensive midfielders in the division. The Black Cats’ collective system may soften the blow, but losing his ball-winning and positional intelligence is a major headache.
4. Calvin Bassey — Nigeria / Fulham
An ever-present this season, Bassey’s left-footed recovery speed and athleticism are vital to Fulham’s balance. There’s no true like-for-like replacement, and Marco Silva must brace for a lengthy spell without his versatile defender.
3. Alex Iwobi — Nigeria / Fulham
Another Fulham mainstay, Iwobi’s four goal involvements and increasingly incisive passing have become central to the Cottagers’ attacking rhythm. His absence will produce a noticeable drop in West London’s creative fluidity while he’s in Morocco.
2. Bryan Mbeumo — Cameroon / Manchester United
This one hurts United fans: Mbeumo’s six goals in 15 league games have come with a relentless energy and hunger that have reshaped Ruben Amorim’s attack. Replacing him with Bruno Fernandes or Mason Mount forces a tactical reshuffle, and his absence will be felt deeply.
1. Iliman Ndiaye — Senegal / Everton
The single most damaging loss on this list, Ndiaye is Everton’s creative heartbeat and has been involved in six goals already this season. With Senegal tipped for a deep run and Everton facing Arsenal and Aston Villa during the tournament, the Toffees will suffer a significant drop in invention and goal threat without his spark.
As Morocco beckons and club lights dim, these absences will rewrite lineups, reshape tactics, and hand unexpected heroes their moment in the sun. When the tournament ends, some players will return battle‑hardened and reborn, others will come back weary or changed — and managers who adapt fastest will reap the rewards.
