The 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) gets underway on December 21st, with several Premier League stars set to depart for the winter to represent their nations at the tournament.
The competition runs from December 21st to January 18th, 2026, with players potentially missing up to six Premier League games depending on how far their nation goes.
FIFA recently announced that clubs could keep hold of players up to December 15th before letting them jet off to the tournament.
Several Premier League clubs are set to lose players to AFCON over the winter – here, Flashscore have compiled a list of all the stars set to leave on international duty.
Arsenal – zero players
The Gunners have no players representing African nations in their first-team squad.
Winger Evann Guessand is a regular in the Ivory Coast squad and is expected to join up with the current AFCON holders.
Summer signing Amine Adli should be called up for hosts Morocco – but the Cherries will retain star player Antoine Semenyo after Ghana failed to qualify.
Both Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso) and Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) could be called up for their respective countries. Onyeka has been included in the Super Eagles’ preliminary squad.
Carlos Baleba has struggled this season but remains a part of Cameroon’s squad for AFCON 2025/26, while Yankuba Minteh will remain with the Seagulls after Gambia failed to qualify.
Burnley – three players
Lyle Foster has been included in South Africa’s squad, while Axel Tuanzebe has been selected for DR Congo.
Hannibal Mejbri is also part of Tunisia’s squad.
Chelsea – zero players
Chelsea have no players representing African nations in their first-team squad.
The Eagles have several first-team players who could have headed to Morocco, although a few are injury concerns ahead of the tournament.
Chadi Riad (Morocco) and Chieck Doucoure (Mali) are yet to feature for the club this season and will miss AFCON, while Ismaila Sarr (Senegal) went off injured in their December loss to Manchester United – it remains to be seen if he will be fit.
Christantus Uche was in Nigeria’s preliminary squad, but was not selected for the final tournament.
Both Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye are regulars for Senegal and are expected to join up with the squad before the start of the tournament.
Youngster Adam Aznou was not called up for the hosts, Morocco.
Fulham – three players
Nigerian trio Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze have all been selected in Nigeria’s squad.
Leeds – zero players
Leeds have no players representing African nations in their first-team squad.
Star forward Mohamed Salah has, as expected, been called up for Egypt.
Likewise, Omar Marmoush has also been confirmed to be part of Egypt’s squad.
Rayan Ait-Nouri has barely featured lately but is expected to join up with Algeria.
Three important players are set to head off to AFCON, with Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon) and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) all called up.
Yoane Wissa would normally be part of DR Congo’s team, but was not selected due to his current injury struggles.
Taiwo Awoniyi was named in Nigeria’s provisional squad, as was Ola Aina, although the defender is expected to be out until January with a hamstring injury – neither was included in their final group.
Both Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly have been called up for the Ivory Coast.
Sunderland will be the club most affected by AFCON, with five out of seven first-team players confirmed to depart.
Noah Sadiki and Arthur Masuaku have been added to DR Congo’s squad, while Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique), and Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso) have also been selected.
Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast) has not been called up by his nation.
Club record signing Habib Diarra is also set to join up with Senegal if he can overcome a groin injury that has kept him out of action since September.
Pape Matar Sarr will likely be selected by Senegal, while it remains to be seen if out-of-favour midfielder Yves Bissouma will join up with Mali.
Winger Mohammed Kudus represents Ghana, who didn’t qualify for the tournament.
The Hammers are set to miss defensive pairing Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf. The former has been called up for DR Congo, while the latter will likely be selected for Senegal.
Wolves – two players
Just two out of a potential five players are set to depart for AFCON, with the club sitting at the bottom of the Premier League.
Marshall Munetsi was not selected by Zimbabwe, but Tawanda Chirewa join up with them, while Emmanuel Agbadou has been picked by the Ivory Coast.
Tolu Arokodare was in Nigeria’s preliminary squad but not the final one, while Jackson Tchatchoua was not picked by Cameroon.
