Premier League clubs are preparing for a major mid-season disruption as many African players are expected to depart for the

Africa Cup of Nations, set to take place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.

Top-flight teams across England will be impacted, with key players from Liverpool, Manchester United, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, and other clubs set to miss several crucial fixtures during the busy winter period.

Among the biggest absentees is Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Egypt’s star forward, who is likely to miss up to six Premier League matches, including high-profile clashes against Tottenham, Arsenal, and Fulham.

Manchester United will also feel the loss of Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui, and Amad Diallo, while Fulham faces the absence of three Nigerian internationals: Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, and Samuel Chukwueze.

Other clubs affected include Nottingham Forest, missing Ola Aina, Willy Boly, and Ibrahim Sangaré, and Tottenham Hotspur, who will lose Pape Matar Sarr, Yves Bissouma and Mohammed Kudus

AFCON 2025 is expected to be a test of squad depth for Premier League clubs, as teams will have to navigate the congested winter fixture schedule without some of their key African internationals.

Here are other players expected at AFCON 2025

Aston Villa Evann Guessand Ivory Coast

Brentford Dango Ouattara Burkina Faso

Brentfod Frank Onyeka Nigeria

Burnley Lyle Foster South Africa

Burnley Hannibal Mejbri Tunisia

Crystal Palace Christantus Uche Nigeria

Everton Iliman Ndiaye, Senegal

Everton Idrissa Gueye Senegal

Manchester City Omar Marmoush Egypt

Manchester City Rayan Aït-Nouri Algeria

West Ham El Hadji Malick Diouf Senegal

West Ham Aaron Wan-Bissaka DR Congo

Wolves Emmanuel Agbadou Ivory Coast

Wolves Tolu Arokodare Nigeria (PUNCH)