The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is set to ignite passion across the continent, but the tournament in Morocco will have a notable void. As the host nation prepares to face Comoros in the opening match on Sunday, December 21, 2025, the absence of several marquee African football stars has become a major talking point. From retirement and injury to non-qualification and surprise omissions, the reasons vary, leaving fans to wonder about the impact on the competition's spectacle.
Why Big Names Are Absent from the Continental Stage
The list of missing talent is significant, affecting powerhouse nations and altering team dynamics. Some players, like Nigeria's William Troost-Ekong, have chosen international retirement on the eve of the tournament. Others, such as Ghana's Mohammed Kudus, are absent because their national teams failed to secure a ticket to Morocco. Injuries and managerial decisions have also played a crucial role, ensuring that the 2025 AFCON will proceed without some of its most recognizable faces.
1. William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria)
The defensive rock of the Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong, announced his retirement from international football just 19 days before the tournament's kickoff. This decision came as a shock, especially after he was included in coach Eric Chelle's provisional 54-man squad. The 32-year-old defender, who earned 83 caps, was the standout Player of the Tournament at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast, where Nigeria finished as runners-up. His leadership and experience will be profoundly missed in the Nigerian backline as they chase glory in Morocco.
2. Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
DR Congo's attacking hopes suffered a blow with the omission of Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa. The 29-year-old forward suffered an injury during a World Cup qualifier against Senegal in September. Although he has returned to training with his club, his recovery timeline was too tight for inclusion in the final squad. Wissa featured in only two matches all season, both for his national team in early September, leaving a gap in the Leopards' offensive options.
3. Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon)
In a dramatic turn of events, Cameroon's all-time AFCON top scorer, Vincent Aboubakar, was dropped from the squad. The Neftci forward, who scored eight goals to win the Golden Boot in the 2021 edition, is reportedly absent due to a fallout with Cameroon Football Federation president Samuel Eto'o. Aboubakar is just one goal shy of equaling the legendary Ndaye Mulamba's long-standing record of nine goals in a single tournament, set in 1974, making his exclusion a major storyline.
4. Hakim Ziyech (Morocco)
Even the host nation is not immune to surprise exclusions. Veteran playmaker Hakim Ziyech has been left out of the Moroccan squad by coach Mohamed Wahbi. The 32-year-old Wydad midfielder was instrumental in Morocco's historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals. His omission is seen as a strategic shift towards youth, integrating players from the country's triumphant FIFA U-20 World Cup-winning squad, who defeated Argentina in the final.
5. Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
Perhaps the most glaring absence due to qualification failure is that of Tottenham Hotspur's dynamic attacker, Mohammed Kudus. The Black Stars did not qualify for AFCON 2025, meaning fans will be deprived of seeing one of the Premier League's most explosive talents on the continental stage. Kudus recently helped Ghana secure its spot for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but his brilliance will not be on display in Morocco this winter.
Impact and Looking Ahead
The absence of these stars undeniably changes the complexion of the tournament. It presents an opportunity for new heroes to emerge and for teams to demonstrate their depth. While the spectacle may lack some individual star power, the collective drama, passion, and unpredictability of AFCON remain fully intact. As the action unfolds from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, across nine Moroccan cities, the narrative will now focus on who steps up to fill these considerable voids.
