AFCON 2025: Eight Stars Out, One Big Shake-Up for Saudi Giants
15 November 2025
A continent within a continent, AFCON 2025 will pull a chunk of the Saudi Pro League’s star power from the field for about a month, reshaping ongoing title battles. Morocco hosts the tournament from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 with 32 teams, and several Saudi players will depart to represent their nations. Clubs will need depth, and fans should expect a few tactical puzzles as squads compensate for the absence of regular starters.
Al Ahli: The Most Affected
Among the Saudi giants, Al Ahli stands to lose the most players to AFCON. Riyad Mahrez, Frank Kessie, and Edouard Mendy will be unavailable for parts of the competition, creating a notable shortfall in goals, creativity, and a commanding presence in goal. While the squad has capable options, replacing three starters is a tall order and could force the coach to rethink midfield balance and defensive organization.
In goal, Abdulrahman Al-Sanabi could be pressed into service, though stepping up after limited senior action since 2022 is a risk. In midfield, the depth chart will be tested, and the club may lean on younger or less experienced players to maintain control and tempo against demanding league schedules and cup ties. Offensively, the absence of Mahrez and Kessie will ripple through the attack, particularly in wide areas and central creativity.
Al Hilal: A Missing Defensive Wall
Al Hilal faces a separate but equally impactful setback as Yassine Bounou and Kalidou Koulibaly depart for AFCON. The duo has formed a key defensive spine, helping to build both solidity and ball-playing distribution from the back. Their absence will test the team’s depth at centre-back and the communication lines that have become a hallmark of their recent seasons.
To counter, the club has tied up two summer signings — a goalkeeper and a central defender — and there is cautious optimism that these players can step into the defensive duty with enough experience for high-stakes fixtures. The manager will likely rotate to preserve form and mitigate risk, especially in congested domestic and continental schedules.
The potential nine-match window without Bounou or Koulibaly includes a Riyadh derby and other league fixtures that will demand collective discipline and tactical discipline from the rest of the backline. The challenge for the coaching staff is translating training-ground shapes into match-day resilience without two proven anchors.
Al Ittihad: A Heart of Midfield Gap
Al Ittihad must shoulder a midfield absence with the departures of Houssam Aouar and Mamadou Doumbia. The center of the pitch, historically a hub for ball progression and pressing, will require either a reshaped defensive-midfield block or an upgraded role for a younger option stepping into the breach. The coach might lean on formations that protect the backline while gradually coaxing a newer duo to manage the tempo and defensive cover.
Replacing both midfielders at once is a stern test for balance and creativity. The deployment of a more conservative structure could help, but it may dampen the team’s attacking impetus and require more disciplined off-ball work to sustain pressure without compromising defensive shape.
Al Nassr: A Lone Absence
By contrast, Al Nassr faces AFCON with a single absence: Sadio Mane. While Mane’s absence is significant in terms of goal threat and leadership in the forward line, the squad’s depth and star power offer a cushion. The management will weigh how to deploy other attackers to fill the gap in the most efficient way, possibly reconfiguring the forward line or shifting roles to ensure the team retains its standard output and pressing intensity.
Even with Mane on AFCON duty, the club’s options in attack provide some reassurance. The challenge lies in maintaining chemistry and rhythm during his absence, particularly when fixtures pile up across domestic and continental competitions.
Across these clubs, AFCON 2025 will be a test of depth, tactical flexibility, and the ability of youngsters to grow under pressure. Coaches will need to balance short-term fixes with longer-term development, while fans brace for a month of shifting lineups and a new set of tactical puzzles to solve after the tournament ends.
In the broader picture, the league will watch closely how these absences influence the title race, keeping an eye on upcoming derbies and critical fixtures that could redefine momentum for the second half of the season.
Punchline time: AFCON 2025 is basically when your bench rate goes from “we’re fine” to “someone write this on the whiteboard”—and yes, the whiteboard will probably need extra markers. Punchline two: If depth charts were a sniper’s rifle, AFCON season is when you realize your greatest accuracy comes from the academy, not the first eleven. May the backups bring the punch they promised on the training ground, and may the drama stay on the field, not on the laptop screens of every pundit.
