The stage is set for the biennial spectacle of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023, with 24 countries vying for glory. In this winter tournament, the Premier League is well-represented, with a total of 49 players from 13 countries poised to feature in the continental tournament.
- Participating Countries: 24
- Tournament Dates: January 13, 2024, to February 11, 2024
When AFCON last graced Cameroon two years ago, 34 Premier League players from 12 countries showcased their talents. This edition could see an even greater presence, with 49 players from 13 nations, adding an exciting layer to an already busy period in the English football calendar.
The tournament's schedule will intersect with both Premier League and FA Cup matches, leading to potential absences for players involved. With up to eight domestic matches at stake, the mid-season player break from January 13 to 27, 2024, will be a critical period.
Nottingham Forest may bear the brunt of AFCON-related absences, with eight squad members, including Emmanuel Dennis and Taiwo Awoniyi, facing potential extended periods away. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah could miss key clashes against Chelsea and Arsenal, while Manchester City and Newcastle United are the only clubs unlikely to have any player representation.
Let's delve into the countries and the Premier League players who could represent them in AFCON 2023:
Angola
- None
Algeria
- Said Benrahma (West Ham), Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves)
Burkina Faso
- Bertrand Traore (Aston Villa), Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth), Issa Kabore (Luton Town)
Cameroon
- Andre Onana (Man Utd), Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford), Joel Matip (Liverpool)
Cape Verde
- None
DR Congo
- Yoane Wissa (Brentford), Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton)
Egypt
- Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Equatorial Guinea
- None
Gambia
- None
Ghana
- Thomas Partey (Arsenal), Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth), Tariq Lamptey (Brighton), Jordan Ayew, Jeffrey Schlupp (Crystal Palace), Mohammed Kudus (West Ham)
Guinea
- None
Guinea-Bissau
- None
Ivory Coast
- Hamed Traore (Bournemouth), Simon Adingra (Brighton), Amad Diallo (Man Utd), Serge Aurier, Willy Boly, Ibrahim Sangare (Nott'm Forest), Benie Traore (Sheff Utd), Maxwell Cornet (West Ham)
Mali
- Cheick Doucoure (Crystal Palace), Abdoulaye Doucoure (Everton), Ismaila Coulibaly (Sheffield United), Yves Bissouma (Tottenham Hotspur), Boubacar Traore (Wolves)
Mauritania
- None
Morocco
- Anass Zaroury (Burnley), Sofyan Amrabat (Man Utd), Nayef Aguerd (West Ham)
Mozambique
- None
Namibia
- None
Nigeria
- Ola Aina, Emmanuel Dennis, Taiwo Awoniyi (all Nott'm Forest), Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi (both Fulham), Frank Onyeka (Brentford)
Senegal
- Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea), Idrissa Gueye (Everton) Cheikhou Kouyate, Moussa Niakhate (both Nott'm Forest), Pape Matar Sarr (Spurs)
South Africa
- Lyle Foster (Burnley)
Tanzania
- None
Tunisia
- Samy Chouchane (Brighton), Hannibal Mejbri (Man Utd), Anis Ben Slimane (Sheff Utd)
Zambia
- None