AFCON 2025: Which Premier League Clubs Will Feel the Brunt of Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco?

AFCON 2025 in Morocco: timing, host nation and what it means for the Premier League

The Africa Cup of Nations is starting earlier this year and will be hosted by Morocco. The tournament runs from December 21 to January 18, with clubs still awaiting the official schedule for when players must report to their national teams. Release dates may vary by club depending on agreements between leagues and federations.

As a result, many Premier League teams could see key players head off to Africa, potentially affecting domestic league matches and cup ties. If players depart in the group stage, some clubs could miss roughly half of their league and cup fixtures, since the group stage ends on December 31.

Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds United are among the clubs likely to be less affected due to smaller contingents leaving, while Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers face a bigger hit with several first‑team players likely unavailable.

At Aston Villa, only one player is set to depart, easing disruption. Bournemouth is also unlikely to be hit hard, with one player joining Morocco’s squad, while Brentford will lose two players who head to the competition. Brighton could lose one midfield staple, while Burnley faces three absences.

Crystal Palace may lose up to four players, including one of their main scorers, as injuries have slowed some returns. Everton will be without two key players; Fulham could be down by three; Liverpool will feel the absence of Mohamed Salah; Manchester City will lose two players to national duties; Manchester United face a challenging spell with three attackers or wingers away. Newcastle United could see one or two calls; Nottingham Forest could see as many as seven departures; Tottenham Hotspur might lose two midfielders; West Ham United could lose two starters. Wolves may endure five absences as they look to navigate a difficult spell.

In short, managers will need to juggle squad depth and rotations to navigate a congested period, as group-stage results and call-ups reshape lineups. And yes, the fixture calendar might feel a little lighter on international breaks than your last vacation days, but hey, who doesn’t love a good squad puzzle?

Punchline: If football ever needed a calendar-like miracle, AFCON is the winter version of rearranging the furniture while the house is on fire. Punchline 2: The only thing louder than chants will be the excuse of “we were missing our star players”—and yes, blaming the schedule is now a sport in itself.