The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) begins in Morocco this Sunday, triggering a mid-season exodus of talent from the English Premier League. A total of 32 players have received call-ups, leaving their clubs to navigate a crucial period of the campaign without key figures. The impact, however, will be felt very differently across the division, with some sides decimated and others entirely unaffected.
Sunderland Suffer Biggest Blow with Six Departures
Newly-promoted Sunderland, enjoying a stellar return to the top flight, will be the hardest-hit club. Six of their players are heading to the tournament, representing nearly a fifth of all Premier League participants. The Black Cats will lose Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo), Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique), and Habib Diarra (Senegal).
This group has contributed a massive 4,412 minutes and 61 appearances in the league this season, a higher total than any other club. The absence of midfielder Noah Sadiki, who has missed just 26 minutes of league action, will be particularly keenly felt. He is a pivotal figure in possession and ranks among Sunderland's top chance creators, alongside fellow Afcon-bound players Traoré and Talbi.
Clubs Losing Multiple Key Players
Several other teams face significant disruption. Manchester United will be without influential pair Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo. Mbeumo is the club's top league scorer with six goals, while Amad is a creative hub. Fulham lose a key Nigerian trio: Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze. If Nigeria reaches the final on January 18th, Fulham could be without them for six league games.
Everton will feel the impact of losing Senegal's Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye. Ndiaye is a central attacking threat, leading the team for goal involvements this term. West Ham must cope without their first-choice full-backs, Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo) and El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal), who are vital to their flank play and defensive solidity.
While Manchester City lose two players, their minutes have been limited. More notable is the absence of Nottingham Forest's Ibrahim Sangaré. The Ivorian midfielder has been a regular starter and produced a stunning performance in his final game before departure.
Influential Solo Departures and Lucky Escapes
Some clubs lose only one player, but they are stars. Liverpool bid farewell to Mohamed Salah, the tournament's biggest name. Despite a recent reduced role, he has been involved in seven league goals this season and holds a new Liverpool record for goal involvements. Crystal Palace lose the influential Ismaïla Sarr, while Brighton will miss ever-present midfielder Carlos Baleba.
In contrast, six Premier League clubs will not lose a single player to the tournament. Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Leeds, and Newcastle will have fully stocked squads throughout. Bournemouth are especially fortunate, as Ghana's failure to qualify means top scorer Antoine Semenyo stays put. Tottenham also benefit, retaining assist-king Mohammed Kudus for the same reason.
The Africa Cup of Nations presents a familiar but uneven challenge for Premier League managers. As the tournament unfolds in Morocco, the resilience of depleted squads and the fortune of unaffected ones could prove decisive in the tightly-packed league table.
