In an attempt to avoid overlapping with the European club campaign, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was initially set to be played in June and July. However, due to concerns over adverse weather conditions in Ivory Coast, the tournament was pushed back. It will now run between 13 January and 11 February.
The news went down like a lead balloon for Premier League clubs. For years, one of the pitfalls of signing the best African players has been the prospect of losing them for the tournament during the busy winter period.
And, thanks to the scheduling change, this season will be no different. Few English clubs will escape the effects of the 2023 AFCON, with as many as 31 players set to miss games for their respective clubs when the action kicks off.
Below, are some of the Premier League stars are poised for a tournament-enforced absence this winter.
Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria)
Ait-Nouri is only a relatively recent addition to the Algeria ranks, having switched international allegiances from France in March 2023. Secretly, Wolves might have been hoping he was left out of the Fennec Foxes’ AFCON squad as he is one of their most consistent performers.
Yasser Larouci (Algeria)
Sheffield United defender Larouci is on a season-long loan from Troyes and started a few times towards the beginning of the campaign. That playing time has drastically reduced more recently, however, and it was a surprise to see him named in the Algeria squad.
Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)
Unplayable on his day, Traore has blown hot and cold since signing for Aston Villa. His progress was hampered by an injury-hit 2022-23 campaign, and it’s been a similar story this campaign. He still made his nation’s squad, though.
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso)
Ouattara was one of the spate of January signings that helped propel Bournemouth to Premier League safety last season. Unfortunately, an injury prevented his involvement early on this season, though he’s returned to play left back in more recent times.
Issa Kabore (Burkina Faso)
Kabore hasn’t had a sniff of first-team football since he joined Manchester City in 2020, but if he impresses during a loan move to newly-promoted Luton Town, Pep Guardiola may finally be convinced of his talents. He’s done well so far, but the Hatters will be without him in January, with the 22 year old already picking up 32 international caps for his country.
Andre Onana (Cameroon)
After a high-profile falling out with Cameroon coach Rigobert Song over the team’s playing style saw him depart the World Cup early, Onana returned to the international fold in September. He helped the Indomitable Lions secure their place at the 2023 AFCON with Altay Bayindir likely to deputise in his absence for Manchester United this winter.
Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
Much like Mbeumo, Wissa has had additional goalscoring responsibility thrusted upon his shoulders in the absence of Toney. He started brightly, but the goals have dried up in recent months as the Bees continue to struggle.
Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)
Elneny was expected to depart Arsenal in the summer, only for the Gunners to surprisingly offer him a contract extension back in March. He scarcely plays for the club these days, as he eyes a move into coaching.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Salah is in line to miss Liverpool’s Premier League clashes against Bournemouth, Chelsea and Arsenal if Egypt do well this winter. However, this could end up being Al-Ittihad’s problem, with the Saudi Pro League side determined to sign the forward for a world-record fee.
Antoine Semenyo (Ghana)
Semenyo has not quite taken the Premier League by storm since joining Bournemouth from Championship Bristol City last January, only scoring once in the 2022-23 season. He’s fared better under the guidance of Andoni Iraola and will be a miss for the Cherries when he jets off to the tournament with Ghana.
Jordan Ayew (Ghana)
Ayew hailed the “beauty of football” after Ghana secured AFCON qualification with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Central African Republic. The experienced forward is not without his critics, but the Black Stars’ fourth-most capped player will be vital to their chances of success.
Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
West Ham did well to snap up Kudus this summer, with some of Europe’s top clubs tracking him over the past few years. David Moyes will have to cope without him for a few weeks, though, as he is one of the Black Stars’ key men.
Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast)
Adingra is the latest in a long line of young stars off the Brighton production line. Snapped up for a pittance from Nordsjaelland, the Nigerian impressed on loan at the Seagulls’ sister club Union SG last season and is now back at the Amex. Playing in front of his home fans this winter will be the highlight of his fledgling career.
Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast)
A deadline-day arrival from PSV Eindhoven, destructive midfielder Sangare looks like an intelligent pickup for Nottingham Forest. Ivory Coast respect his talents too, with the 25 year old earning over 30 caps for the Elephants so far.
Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast)
Aurier was in excellent form to kick off the 2023-24 season, helping himself to a pair of assists against Sheffield United in an important 2-1 win. He will be one of the more experienced heads in the Ivory Coast squad as they head into a historic tournament – provided he can shake off a calf strain.
Willy Boly (Ivory Coast)
Boly was a late arrival to the international fold, not making his Ivory Coast debut until 2020 having previously represented France at youth level. He is not their first-choice centre-back either, which will make his absence even more frustrating for Forest.
Yves Bissouma (Mali)
One of the many beneficiaries of Ange Postecoglou’s appointment as Tottenham manager in the summer, Bissouma has been excelent this season. He got into a bit of hot water over his time-keeping back in the autumn, but he is still bound to be a big miss for Spurs when he heads off to the tournament.
Boubacar Traore (Mali)
Traore impressed Wolves enough to earn himself a permanent move to the club following an initial loan spell last season. He’s far from a regular for Gary O’Neil, though, and has only made the Mali squad due to injury.
Nayef Aguerd (Morocco)
The Hammers were not the best stocked at centre-back until the signing of Konstantinos Mavropanos this summer, a deal likely influenced by Aguerd’s probable AFCON-enforced absence.
Sofyan Amrabat (Morroco)
Amrabat has garnered mixed reviews since arriving at Old Trafford, but he’ll be the heartbeat of his Morocco side who will be confident of making a deep run in the Ivory Coast following a historic 2022 World Cup campaign.
Frank Onyeka (Nigeria)
Onyeka has been a reliable operator for Brentford since they earned promotion to the Premier League in 2021. His performances have been recognised by Nigeria too, with Onyeka set to line up in midfield alongside the likes of Wilfred Ndidi and Joe Aribo in the Ivory Coast.
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria)
After representing England at youth level, Iwobi switched allegiances to Nigeria in 2015 and has since become a mainstay for the Super Eagles. His move to Fulham has proved to be a smart decision so far.
Calvin Bassey (Nigeria)
Much was expected of Bassey when he joined Ajax in a Eredivisie-record deal for a defender. However, he underwhelmed last season and was swiftly sold on to Fulham, where he has rediscovered some form despite some clumsy moments.
Ola Aina (Nigeria)
Starting his career off at Chelsea, Aina made the bold decision to join Torino in 2019. After tasting Premier League relegation on loan at Fulham during the 2020-21 campaign, he will be hoping for better fortune this season – both at Nottingham Forest and for Nigeria.
Nicolas Jackson (Senegal)
Jackson’s move to Chelsea in the summer came somewhat from left field, with the striker attracting the free-spending Blues’ attention with a glut of goals for Villarreal towards the end of last season. He’s blown hot and cold so far, but certainly has talent.
Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)
There had been murmurings that Gueye could retire from international duty, but he strongly batted away those rumours recently. It’s not great news for Everton who need all of their best players available as frequently as possible as they look set to battle relegation again this season following a 10-point deduction.
Moussa Niakhate (Senegal)
A France Under-21 international, Niakhate declared for Senegal in March 2023. A regular starter for Nottingham Forest when he wasn’t injured last season, he is back playing regularly now after a slow start to the campaign.
Fode Ballo-Toure (Senegal)
Fulham should be able to cope without Ballo-Toure. The Senegal international has only made six appearances since making summer move from AC Milan.
Cheikhou Kouyate (Senegal)
A key player in Senegal’s 2021 AFCON triumph, Kouyate boasts close to 300 Premier League appearances for West Ham, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest. He’s 33 now, but remains a key figure for club and country.
Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)
Sarr had to be patient for his first-team chances last season despite Tottenham’s poor form. He’s one of Postecoglou’s most trusted lieutenants this campaign, though, and will likely clock up a century of Senegal caps before he retires.
Anis Ben Slimane (Tunisia)
A summer recruit from Brondby in Denmark, Anis has scarcely featured for Sheffield United so far due to a hamstring injury. That issue saw him sit out of Tunisia’s September fixtures, but there’s no doubt he’ll be back in the mix for the tournament.