Which EPL Teams are Hit Hardest by AFCON?
by Sam Cox | by Tyler Doty
The Africa Cup of Nations invariably has a major impact on the Premier League season. Players have already departed to prepare for the tournament, which kicks off on Dec. 21 and concludes on Jan. 18.
Sixteen out of the 20 Premier League clubs are missing at least one player for the tournament. Arsenal, Chelsea, Leeds, and Newcastle are the only clubs keeping their first-team squads intact.
Sunderland Missing Six
Sunderland are expected to have six members of their first-team squad called up for AFCON. Bertrand Traoré, Arthur Masuaku, Noah Sadiki, and Reinildo have been confirmed, while Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talibi are likely to be included in the Senegal and Morocco squads, respectively.
From a minutes perspective, Sadiki is the biggest loss, having been on the field for almost all of Sunderland’s Premier League matches so far this season. Reinildo has played 74% of minutes.
The only positive for the Black Cats was Simon Adringa being left out of Ivory Coast’s final squad.
Four Out for Wolves
Wolves, who have two points on the board and are at risk of being cut adrift at the foot of the table, need all the help they can get. Emmanuel Agbadou is the only player confirmed in an AFCON squad at the time of writing, but Tolu Arokodare, Marshall Munetsi, and Tawana Chirewa are likely to be included, too.
Munetsi and Agbadou have played roughly two-thirds of Wolves’ league minutes so far this season.
Like Sunderland, Wolves did get to unexpectedly keep one a regular starter in Jackson Tchatchoua.
Two Key West Ham Absences
West Ham only have two players heading to AFCON, but they are one of a small group of clubs missing two of their first-choice starters.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf have been the Hammers’ starting right and left-back, respectively. Nuno Espirito Santo has his work cut out to balance his team without the pair.
Others Missing Starters
Ibrahim Sangaré is a huge loss for Nottingham Forest. The Ivorian has started 10 league matches so far this season and averages 2.9 tackles and interceptions per match. Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi depleted Sean Dyche’s depth.
Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi are locks to be in Nigeria’s squad. Both have played over 90% of league minutes for Fulham. Samuel Chukwueze is a loss, too. The west London squad aren’t losing the same number of players as Wolves or Sunderland, but they don’t have much margin for error and will sorely miss Bassey and Iwobi.
Senegal are taking Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye from Everton. Both have been consistent starters, with Ndiaye tied for the team’s lead in goal involvements. The Lions of Teranga have a good chance of going all the way, which would leave Everton without two integral players for six matches.
Brentford’s Dango Ouattara and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba leave considerable holes to fill.
Hardest EPL Schedule During AFCON
Facing Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Crystal Palace during the tournament, Aston Villa have the hardest schedule while AFCON is on.
The Villains are fortunate they are only losing Evann Guessand. Other clubs are much less fortunate.
Sunderland, for example, are being hit the hardest in the number of players they are losing, and have a trip to Brighton and a visit from Manchester City.
Forest host Tottenham, Manchester City, and Everton. They have trips to Fulham and Aston Villa. If any of their players reach the final, they will also miss a clash with league leaders Arsenal.
Easiest Schedule During AFCON
A trip to Aston Villa is Manchester United’s trickiest fixture during AFCON if we exclude the Manchester derby, which falls the day before the AFCON final.
Ruben Amorim will be hoping Cameroon and Ivory Coast are eliminated before then, so he was Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo available.
Liverpool are in a period of turmoil, but their fixtures are favorable over the festive period. Mohamed Salah – currently in a public spat with the club and left out of the starting XI recently – is their only AFCON absentee.
Arne Slot’s side might benefit from Salah’s absence, if anything. He risks being a distraction for his teammates following his outburst after being left out of the lineup against Leeds. Liverpool face Tottenham, Wolves, Leeds, Fulham, Arsenal, and Burnley during the tournament.
