The Premier League is set for significant disruption as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations approaches, with 17 clubs preparing to lose key players during the crucial holiday period. The tournament, scheduled to run from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco, will see numerous top-flight stars depart for international duty.
Clubs Facing Major Squad Depletions
Sunderland faces the biggest challenge with seven players expected to join their national teams, including Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco) and Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso). Wolverhampton Wanderers follow closely with five players potentially missing, creating substantial gaps in their starting lineups during the busy festive schedule.
According to BBC reports, players could miss between six and seven Premier League matches, plus potential FA Cup and Carabao Cup fixtures, depending on how far their national teams progress in the tournament. This extended absence could significantly impact title races, European qualification battles, and relegation fights.
Notable Absences Across Top Clubs
Several marquee players will be missing from crucial Premier League fixtures:
- Liverpool: Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
- Manchester City: Omar Marmoush (Egypt), Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria)
- Manchester United: Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco)
- Crystal Palace: Christantus Uche (Nigeria), Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)
- Fulham: Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, Samuel Chukwueze (all Nigeria)
Other clubs including Aston Villa, Bournemouth, and Brighton will experience fewer departures but still face strategic challenges in maintaining squad depth and performance levels.
Arsenal and Chelsea's Strategic Advantage
In stark contrast to their rivals, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds United will retain their entire squads throughout the AFCON period, as confirmed by SportsMole. This provides these clubs with a significant competitive advantage during one of the most demanding periods of the football calendar.
This unique situation allows managers at these unaffected clubs to maintain squad consistency, rotate players strategically, and potentially capitalize on weakened opponents. The stability could prove crucial in building momentum through December and January while other teams struggle to adapt to missing key personnel.
The timing of AFCON 2025 presents particular challenges for Premier League managers, who must plan for extended absences of vital players during a period that often defines seasons. Clubs with multiple international call-ups face the additional complication of reintegrating returning players who may experience fatigue or require recovery time following the tournament.
As the December 21 kickoff approaches, Premier League coaching staffs are undoubtedly developing contingency plans to mitigate the impact of the African football showcase on their domestic campaigns.
