Premier League teams face a crucial test with AFCON 2024: In-depth analysis reveals the impact of missing star players like Salah.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, starting on January 13, 2024, poses a significant challenge for several Premier League teams as key players will be called up for international duty, impacting team dynamics and strategies.
The tournament’s timing, often a headache for managers, brings a mid-season shake-up, with only Manchester City and Newcastle United remaining unaffected.
Liverpool: Coping Without the Star
Liverpool face a major challenge with Mohamed Salah’s departure for AFCON.
Salah’s 22 goal involvements are critical for the team, and his absence is a concern for Liverpool, who are competing at the top of the league and in domestic cups.
Jürgen Klopp must navigate the period with other attacking players but without his primary goal scorer.
Notable Absences Across the League
- Arsenal faces challenges without Mohamed Elneny, potentially impacting their midfield stability.
- Nottingham Forest is one of the most affected, missing seven players, including key figures in their defence and attack.
- West Ham will be without four players, including Mohammed Kudus and Nayef Aguerd, crucial for their offensive strategies.
- Manchester United will miss first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana, among others, leading to potential defensive vulnerabilities.
- Wolves, Everton, Fulham, and others also face significant player absences, testing the depth and adaptability of their squads.
| Player | Club | National Team |
|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Elneny | Arsenal | Egypt |
| Bertrand Traore | Aston Villa | Burkina Faso |
| Dango Ouattara | Bournemouth | Burkina Faso |
| Antoine Semenyo | Bournemouth | Ghana |
| Frank Onyeka | Brentford | Nigeria |
| Yoane Wissa | Brentford | DR Congo |
| Simon Adingra | Brighton | Ivory Coast |
| Nicolas Jackson | Chelsea | Senegal |
| Jordan Ayew | Crystal Palace | Ghana |
| Idrissa Gueye | Everton | Senegal |
| Fode Ballo-Toure | Fulham | Senegal |
| Calvin Bassey | Fulham | Nigeria |
| Alex Iwobi | Fulham | Nigeria |
| Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | Egypt |
| Issa Kabore | Luton | Burkina Faso |
| Sofyan Amrabat | Manchester United | Morocco |
| Andre Onana | Manchester United | Cameroon |
| Ola Aina | Nottingham Forest | Nigeria |
| Serge Aurier | Nottingham Forest | Ivory Coast |
| Willy Boly | Nottingham Forest | Ivory Coast |
| Cheikhou Kouyate | Nottingham Forest | Senegal |
| Moussa Niakhate | Nottingham Forest | Senegal |
| Ibrahim Sangare | Nottingham Forest | Ivory Coast |
| Yasser Larouci | Sheffield United | Algeria |
| Anis Ben Slimane | Sheffield United | Tunisia |
| Yves Bissouma | Tottenham | Mali |
| Pape Matar Sarr | Tottenham | Senegal |
| Nayef Aguerd | West Ham United | Morocco |
| Mohamed Kudus | West Ham United | Ghana |
| Rayan Ait-Nouri | Wolves | Algeria |
| Boubacar Traore | Wolves | Mali |
Teams Unaffected by AFCON
Manchester City and Newcastle United stand out as unaffected, which could be advantageous in the league standings.
City, in particular, has managed to avoid the absence of key players like Riyad Mahrez, thanks to timely transfers.
Premier League’s Strategy Amid AFCON
Teams must strategically navigate this period, potentially exploring the transfer market for temporary replacements or relying on squad depth. The challenge lies in maintaining performance levels and league positions despite these significant absences.
Let the AFCON tournament begin!
