The event runs from December 21st until January 18th, 2026, meaning players could miss up to six Premier League matches depending on their team’s progress.

FIFA recently confirmed that clubs can retain players until December 15th before allowing them to travel to the tournament.

Several Premier League clubs will lose players to AFCON this winter - here, Flashscore has gathered a list of all stars expected to depart for international duty.

Arsenal - no players

The Gunners have no first-team players representing African countries.

Aston Villa - one player

Winger Evann Guessand is a regular member of the Ivory Coast squad and is expected to join the current AFCON champions.

Bournemouth - one player

New signing Amine Adli is likely to be selected for the host nation Morocco, but Bournemouth will keep their key player Antoine Semenyo since Ghana did not qualify.

Brentford - two players

Both Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso) and Frank Onyeka (Nigeria) may be called up for their countries. Onyeka is included in Nigeria’s preliminary squad.

Brighton - one player

Carlos Baleba has had a tough season but remains part of Cameroon's AFCON 2025/26 squad, while Yankuba Minteh will stay with Brighton after Gambia failed to qualify.

Chelsea - no players

Chelsea have no first-team players representing African nations.

Crystal Palace - four players

The Eagles have several first-team players who could have traveled to Morocco, though some face injury doubts before the tournament.

Chadi Riad (Morocco) and Chieck Doucoure (Mali) have yet to appear for the club this season, while Ismaila Sarr (Senegal) was injured in their December defeat to Manchester United.

Christantus Uche is included in Nigeria’s preliminary squad.

Everton - three players

Both Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye are regular Senegal internationals expected to join the squad before the tournament starts.

Young talent Adam Aznou may be called up for host nation Morocco.

Fulham - three players

Nigerian trio Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze have all been named in Nigeria’s preliminary squad.

Leeds - no players

Leeds do not have any first-team players representing African countries.

Liverpool - one player

Star striker Mohamed Salah has, as anticipated, been selected for Egypt.

Manchester City - one player

Similarly, Omar Marmoush has been confirmed as part of Egypt’s squad.

Manchester United - three players

Three key players are expected to leave for AFCON: Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), and Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco) are all probable selections.

Newcastle - no players

Yoane Wissa would usually be part of DR Congo’s squad but was not selected due to ongoing injury issues.

Nottingham Forest - four players

Taiwo Awoniyi was included in Nigeria’s provisional squad, as was Ola Aina, though the defender is expected to be sidelined until January with a hamstring injury.

Both Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly could be called up for Ivory Coast.

Sunderland - seven players

Sunderland will be the most affected club by AFCON, with seven first-team players likely to leave.

Noah Sadiki and Arthur Masuaku have been named in DR Congo’s squad, while Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo Mandava (Mozambique), Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso), and Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast) are all expected call-ups.

Club record signing Habib Diarra is also expected to join Senegal if he recovers from a groin injury that has sidelined him since September.

Tottenham Hotspur - two players

Pape Matar Sarr is likely to be selected by Senegal, while it is uncertain if sidelined midfielder Yves Bissouma will join Mali’s squad.

Winger Mohammed Kudus represents Ghana, who did not qualify for the tournament.

West Ham - two players

The Hammers will miss defensive duo Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf. Wan-Bissaka has been called up for DR Congo, while Diouf is likely to be selected for Senegal.

Wolves - four players

Four players are expected to leave for AFCON as the club sits at the bottom of the Premier League.

Both Marshall Munetsi and Tawanda Chirewa may join Zimbabwe, Emmanuel Agbadou is a regular for Ivory Coast, and Tolu Arokodare is included in Nigeria’s preliminary squad.

Jackson Tchatchoua was not selected by Cameroon for AFCON 2026.