Qualification for the African Cup of Nations drew to a close on Monday. The AFCON has a major impact on football clubs all over the world with Premier League clubs possibly being the ones most adversely affected. A number of players from various clubs depart in January for a period of 5 weeks leaving sides severely depleted.
Here is a guide for all Premier League fans as to what to expect later on in the year:
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Arsenal: Mohamed Elneny
Arsenal are expected to lose the services of Mohamed Elneny who is set to receive a call up from Egypt. The defensive midfielder has made 44 appearances for his country and played every minute of their qualifying campaign this season.
Elneny is not an Arsenal regular though and with Xhaka and Coquelin in the mix, they can easily cope with his loss.
Iwobi will not be travelling to the AFCON due to Nigeria’s inability to qualify for the tournament.
Bournemouth: Max Gradel, Benik Afobe
Max Gradel is not a first team player for Bournemouth but his absence would weaken their midfield depth significantly. Gradel has made 45 appearances for his country of birth, Ivory Coast, scoring 9 goals in the process.
Another potential loss could be Benik Afobe. The 23-year-old has represented England at U-17, U-19 and U-21 levels but also qualifies for Congo due to his parents who are Congolese. Afobe is Bournemouth’s first choice striker and if he is indeed chosen, it would represent a massive loss for the club.
Burnley
Burnley are spared due to the fact that all of their players are British.
ChelseaLike Burnley, Chelsea too will have their squad intact. John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses will not be travelling to Gabon due to Nigeria’s absence in the tournament.
Crystal Palace: Bakary Sako, Pape Souare
Alan Pardew’s men will lose at least 2 players with Bakary Sako set to link up with Mali and Pape Souare with Senegal. Sako has made 14 appearances for Mali scoring 6 goals in the process and is a permanent fixture in their squad. Souare, on the other hand, will represent Senegal. The left back has already made over 20 appearances for his country and was a part of their previous AFCON squad.
Everton: Idrissa Gueye, Arouna Kone, Yannick Bolasie, Oumar Niasse
Everton are probably the biggest sufferers this time around with 4 losses. New signings Yannick Bolasie and Idrissa Gueye are integral parts of the Senegal and Congo national teams respectively and will definitely be heading out to Gabon in January. Meanwhile, Arouna Kone could also make the Ivorian squad although he made no appearance at all in qualification. Same goes for Oumar Niasse who is a part of the Senegal squad having had no significant game time in qualification.
Hull City: Ahmed Elmohamady
Elmohamedy did not play a single minute of Egypt’s qualifying campaign this time around but is still set to feature in their squad. The 28-year-old right-back has made 71 appearances for Egypt and has been a part of successful squads in the past .Egypt have won the competition 7 times in the past but have struggled post-2010.
Leicester: Islam Slimani, Riyad Mahrez, Daniel Amartey, Jeff Schlupp
Leicester, like Everton, will bid adieu to 4-star players. Club record signing Islam Slimani will head out to Algeria along with arguably their best player of last season, Riyadh Mahrez. The duo has 68 appearances in between them for their country and will be expected to play a major role this time as well.
Apart from the obvious 2, wantaway defender Jeff Schlupp as well as Daniel Amartey could be on their way to Ghana. They have just 21 appearances for their country between them but are still regular squad members. Nigeria’s absence though at least frees up Ahmed Musa and he will be expected to play a major role in January.
Liverpool: Sadio Mane, Joel Matip
Liverpool too might have to look for reinforcements in January. Sadio Mane has had a fantastic start to his Liverpool career but he will fly out to represent Senegal. Mane has made 36 appearances for the Senegalese national team and will be hoping to lead them to success this time around. Meanwhile, Joel Matip too is expected to make the Cameroon squad even though he has not played for them in over a year.
Manchester City: Yaya Toure
African Player of the Year on 4 separate occasions, Yaya has been a stalwart in the Ivory Coast and Manchester City sides but has not featured for the Blues of late. In what is widely expected to be his final season for club and country, Yaya will be looking to lead his country to success like he did back in 2015.
Emerging talent Kelechi Iheanacho though will stay at the Etihad due to Nigeria’s absence
Manchester United: Eric Bailly
Since his arrival from Villarreal in the summer, Bailly has cemented his place in Manchester United’s defence and will be a sore miss when he heads off to Ivory Coast. The centre-back was a regular in Ivory Coast’s qualifying campaign and has garnered 14 caps for his country.
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough like Burnley will have no absentees.
Southampton: Sofiane Boufal
New signing Sofiane Boufal could make the Morocco squad after having made an appearance in their qualifying win over Cape Verde earlier this year. The 22-year-old has made just 2 appearances for his nation but he is touted to be one for the future and this could be an opportunity for him to showcase his talent on the world stage.
Stoke: Wilfried Bony, Ramadan Sobhi, Mame Biram Diouf
The Potters could be short of attacking options as they will have to say goodbye to new signing Wilfried Bony as well as strike partner Mame Biram Diouf. Bony is a regular for Ivory Coast having made 44 appearances for the 2015 winners. Diouf meanwhile will be heading to Gabon to represent Senegal. Diouf has a decent goalscoring record for his country having hit the back of the net 10 times in 37 matches.
They could possibly lose the services of Ramadan Sobhi Ahmed as well if he is called up to the Egyptian national team although that possibility is currently remote.
Sunderland: Lamine Kone, Wahbi Khazri, Didier Ndong, Papy Djilobodji
Sunderland have had a poor start to the new season and an already small squad is set to get even thinner in January with the departures of club record signing Didier Ndong, Lamine Kone, Wahbi Khazri and Papy Djilobodji.
Ndong will be representing hosts Gabon while Kone and Djilobodji are expected to get a call-up from Senegal. Midfielder Khazri will make the Tunisia squad as well to make matters worse for David Moyes.
Swansea
Swansea will lose no players after their only African player in Modou Barrow will not be heading to Gabon. Barrow was a part of Gambia’s squad that failed to qualify for the AFCON.
Tottenham
Tottenham will be only the fourth team to keep all their stars in January. New signing Victor Wanyama will stay put in London after Kenya finished bottom of their group in qualification.
Watford: Brice Djadjedje, Nordin Amrabat, Adlene Gueidoura
Amrabat will be the Hornet’s biggest miss as he is a key figure in the Moroccan national team having made over 20 appearances for them in 5 years. New signing Dja Djedje meanwhile is expected to make the Ivory Coast squad while Algeria’s Guedioura will also be missed.Nigeria’s failure means star striker Odion Ighalo will remain at the club in January.
West Brom: Allan Nyom
West Brom will not be too badly affected with Allan Nyom being the only player to depart. Cameroon right back Nyom has made 14 appearances for the 4-time winners and will definitely be a part of their AFCON squad.
West Ham: Sofiane Feghouli, Diafra Sakho, Andre Ayew, Cheikhou Kouyate
West Ham are another team expected to be badly hit with the losses of 4 of their stars. New signing Feghouli will link up with the Algerian side while Kouyate and Sakho will join Senegal. Club record Signing Andre Ayew will join up with Ghana if he is available after injury.
