Africa. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, is expected to cause a significant drain on the squads of several major European clubs.
Since the tournament coincides with the winter break or the busiest period of the season, many teams risk losing key players for several matches.
This year, a number of top stars will be called up, missing considerable playing time for their clubs. Depending on how far their national teams advance, some could miss up to seven matches.
BBC Sport provides an overview of the clubs likely to be most affected in England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
England (Premier League)
The Premier League appears to be the most heavily impacted, with 47 players potentially missing part of the season due to AFCON duty.
Sunderland, currently fourth in the league, faces the biggest hit — with seven players projected to participate in the tournament. Most are regular starters, having made a combined 50 Premier League appearances this season.
Among them are Moroccan winger Chemsdine Talbi, Senegalese midfielder Habib Diarra (injured since September), Mozambican full-back Reinildo, Ivorian winger Simon Adingra, Burkinabé striker Bertrand Traoré, and Congolese players Arthur Masuaku and Noah Sadiki.
Wolverhampton could also be strongly affected, with five players likely to leave for AFCON in Morocco.
Crystal Palace will be without Senegalese winger Ismaila Sarr, who has scored eight goals in all competitions this season. Three other players remain doubtful due to fitness concerns and limited playing time.
Nigerian striker Christantus Uche has only made substitute appearances for Palace so far, while Moroccan defender Chadi Riad and Malian midfielder Cheick Doucouré have not featured since January due to serious knee injuries.
Everton’s Senegalese internationals Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye are also expected to miss several matches.
Liverpool, sitting eighth, will lose only one player to AFCON — but it’s one of their all-time greats: Mohamed Salah, who has scored five goals in a relatively quiet campaign, is certain to join Egypt.
Manchester City will see two players depart, though neither has featured much this season due to injuries: Egyptian striker Omar Marmoush and Algerian left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri.
At Manchester United, the right flank will look very different during the festive period: Cameroonian forward Bryan Mbeumo, Ivorian winger Amad Diallo, and Moroccan full-back Noussair Mazraoui will all be in Morocco representing their national teams.
Tottenham are set to lose two midfielders — Senegal’s Pape Matar Sarr and Mali’s Yves Bissouma, the latter recovering from ankle surgery in October.
Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Kudus will remain available, as Ghana failed to qualify.
While Sunderland and Wolves are likely to be the hardest hit, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds have no players eligible for AFCON 2025.
Overall, English clubs face a major challenge, as players could miss up to six or seven Premier League matches, along with FA Cup and Carabao Cup ties, depending on how far their countries advance.
Germany (Bundesliga)
The Bundesliga will be less affected due to its winter break, unlike the Premier League.
The German league resumes on January 9, during the AFCON quarterfinals. Players eliminated in the group or Round of 16 stages could rejoin their clubs by the restart.
However, those reaching the final could miss up to four league games, including the midweek matchday (January 13–15) and matchday 18 (January 16–18), which coincide with the AFCON third-place and final matches.
The Champions League group stage (January 20–21) also follows just two days after the AFCON final, making player participation uncertain.
Several Bundesliga players are expected to be called up for AFCON-qualified teams (final squads to be confirmed). Notable names include:
• Algeria: Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg), Ramy Bensebaini (Borussia Dortmund), Badredine Bouanani (VfB Stuttgart), Farès Chaïbi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Burkina Faso: Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Cameroon: Christian Kofane (Bayer Leverkusen), Nathan Ngoumou & Patrick Nkoa (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
• Ivory Coast: Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig), Silas Gnaka (Magdeburg), Bazoumana Touré (Hoffenheim)
• Mali: Amadou Haidara (RB Leipzig), Ibrahima Sissoko (Bochum), Moussa Sylla (Schalke)
• Morocco: Bilal El Khannouss (VfB Stuttgart), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen), Anouar El Azzouzi (Fortuna Düsseldorf)
• Nigeria: Victor Boniface (Werder Bremen), Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen), Kevin Akpoguma (Hoffenheim)
• Senegal: Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich)
Italy (Serie A)
Several Serie A players are prominent African internationals expected to be called up:
• Evan Ndicka (Ivory Coast – AS Roma): The Ivorian center-back has become a cornerstone of Roma’s defense under Gian Piero Gasperini, combining composure with consistency.
• Ademola Lookman (Nigeria – Atalanta): Despite a turbulent summer marked by transfer rumors, Lookman remains a key attacking asset for Atalanta and the Nigerian Super Eagles.
• Boulaye Dia (Senegal): Still finding his form this season, but expected to travel with the Teranga Lions.
• André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon – Napoli): A doubt for AFCON due to injury suffered in the last international window.
Spain (La Liga)
The impact in La Liga will be smaller compared to England, but several key starters could still miss matches, potentially disrupting team rotations and post-tournament performance.
According to the AFCON schedule, the tournament overlaps with three to five La Liga matchdays, depending on national team progress, plus potential post-tournament fatigue.
Likely affected clubs include:
– Real Betis: Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco), Abde Ezzalzouli (Morocco), Cedric Bakambu (DR Congo)
– Celta Vigo: El-Abdellaoui (Morocco)
– Getafe: Abqar (Morocco), Ismael Bekhoucha (Morocco), Neyou (Cameroon)
– Girona: Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco)
– Levante: Karl Etta Eyong (Cameroon)
– Rayo Vallecano: Pathé Ciss (Senegal)
– Real Madrid: Brahim Díaz (Morocco)
– Sevilla: Akor Adams & Chidera Ejuke (Nigeria)
– Villarreal: Ilias Akhomach (Morocco), Nicolas Pépé (Ivory Coast), Pape Gueye (Senegal)
France (Ligue 1)
Traditionally, Ligue 1 is the most affected European league, with an average of 60 players participating in AFCON.
Over half of Ligue 1 clubs are expected to lose players between December 21 and January 18.
Teams most at risk include Metz, Nice, Saint-Étienne, Nantes, Clermont, and Marseille, facing disruptions across defense, midfield, and attack.
