Not for the first time, the Africa Cup of Nations is set to collide with one of the most intense stretches of the Premier League calendar. With the tournament taking place in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January, managers must confront the prospect of losing crucial players at the height of the festive fixture rush. Depending on how far nations progress, some Premier League stars could miss six or seven league matches, plus key FA Cup and Carabao Cup ties, at a time when squads are already stretched thin.

As many as 14 clubs are preparing to send players to AFCON, creating major imbalance across the league as some squads stay largely intact while others face sweeping absences.

Below is a comprehensive overview of how teams are expected to be affected, and which clubs may feel the disruption most deeply.

Minimal Disruption: Clubs Least Affected

A small group of Premier League sides find themselves relatively unscathed by AFCON 2025, either because they have no eligible players or because their potential absentees are not central to their plans.

Six clubs, including the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds have no players heading to Morocco. In a month notorious for fixture congestion, that continuity could prove a major advantage and is likely to be a factor in why Arsenal are still favourites for the title in the sports betting, despite a few setbacks recently.

Aston Villa will technically only lose Evann Guessand of Ivory Coast- a forward with limited involvement this season. Guessand hasn’t made the main Elephants squad- he’s only a reserve for the CIV national team.

Ghana’s inability to qualify (Semenyo) and Morocco not calling up Amine Adli means that Bournemouth are also unaffected by AFCON.

Yoane Wissa’s late recovery from injury saw him miss out on the DR Congo squad, which would be music to the ears of Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.

These six teams enter the festive stretch with rare stability, especially compared with their rivals bracing for larger losses.

Moderate Concerns: Clubs Losing One or Two Regulars

A number of clubs are set to lose a handful of starters- enough to complicate rotation, but not devastating if managed well.

Brentford will be without Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso) and Frank Onyeka (Nigeria). Ouattara’s role as a first-team presence makes his departure notable.

Brighton must cover for Carlos Baleba, a key part of their midfield and one of their most consistent performers.

Liverpool’s lone absentee is significant: Mohamed Salah. Losing their most influential attacker across such a taxing period is a major setback, although given the current relationship between him and manager Arne Slot, it might be better for all parties involved.

Manchester City will lose Omar Marmoush (Egypt) and Rayan Ait-Nouri (Algeria), though both have seen little action due to injuries.

Tottenham Hotspur will be without Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal) and Yves Bissouma (Mali). Bissouma’s recovery from ankle surgery may limit his Afcon involvement, but Sarr’s absence still weakens Spurs in midfield.

West Ham face a defensive shakeup, with starting full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo) and El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal) both departing.

For these clubs, depth and tactical flexibility will determine how well they cope.

Major Impact: Squads Losing Three or More Players

For several sides, Afcon won’t just be a hurdle—it will reshape their January entirely.

Burnley will lose Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), and Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia). All three contribute heavily in defence and midfield.

Fulham face a triple blow as Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze join Nigeria. Both Iwobi and Bassey have started every league game, making their absence a serious challenge.

Everton will be without Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye (both Senegal). Gueye and Ndiaye are central figures for the Toffees.

Manchester United will have to do without the services of Bryan Mbuemo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui.

Crystal Palace will lose top scorer Ismaila Sarr (Senegal)

Nottingham Forest will be Ibrahim Sangare (Ivory Coast)—one of their most important midfielders, as well as defender Willy Boly (also Ivory Coast). Thankfully for Forest, the likes of Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi haven’t been called up to AFCON.

Wolves’ relegation-threatened season could have grown even more challenging with the potential loss of 5 first-team contributors, but thankfully for the Midlands outfit, it was restricted to two- Tawanda Chirewa and Emmanuel Agbadou. Marshall Munetsi, Tolu Arokodare, and Jackson Tchatchoua are not going to AFCON.

For a squad already fighting to climb out of the bottom three, it still a serious blow.

These departures represent a significant test for managers needing to rotate heavily during one of the busiest periods of the season.

Severe Disruption: The Club Hit the Hardest

While many Premier League sides face moderate disruption, one stand out as the most affected.

Sunderland: No team faces a tougher AFCON window than the Black Cats. With six players heading to Morocco, the Championship newcomers face a major challenge in maintaining momentum.

Key absentees include:

Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco)

Habib Diarra (Senegal)

Reinildo (Mozambique)

Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso)

Arthur Masuaku and Noah Sadiki (DR Congo)

There could even have been a seventh in the form of Simon Adingra.

Unlike other clubs, most of these players are regulars, making Sunderland’s depth a real concern.

Log Standings as players leave for AFCON

Broader Implications for the League

Afcon 2025’s winter schedule places enormous pressure on Premier League managers to think creatively.

Squad rotation becomes crucial and tactical adjustments must account for missing key stars.

Returning players will need careful reintegration to avoid fatigue or injury. Teams with minimal Afcon representation- like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds- could benefit, while others may see their league positions swing dramatically depending on how well they navigate the next month.

Conclusion

AFCON 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most disruptive editions the Premier League has ever faced. With some clubs losing only fringe players and others watching half their starting XI depart, the next few weeks could transform the league table. The likes of Sunderland are braced for significant upheaval, while more stable squads may find opportunity in the chaos.

As the festive fixtures approach, the spotlight will be on how clubs adapt- because the absence of Africa’s top talent could play a decisive role in shaping the battles for Europe, mid-table security and survival.