The Africa Cup of Nations is coming up. Which English clubs may be in trouble?

The traditional championship, the Africa Cup of Nations, is organised by the Confederation of African Football every two years, usually at the beginning of the year in January. As it is played in the middle of the club season, the tournament also has a significant impact on league competitions, especially in Europe, where teams have to do without their African representatives and mainstays. This text focuses on the African representatives from the English Premier League who are very likely to be missed by their clubs during January.

Already postponed twice due to adverse weather conditions or the covid-19 pandemic, the Africa Cup of Nations will finally be played a year after its original date. The reigning champions are Algeria, who beat Senegal 1-0 in the final at the 2019 championship in Egypt. Cameroon will host this year’s tournament.

After the French one, the English top football league is the second league among the European competitions that have the highest number of potential representatives from different African nations. In comparison, France has a total of 162 national team players, which is almost 15% of the league’s players.

In the British Isles, then, there are a total of 72 potential African representatives, which is roughly 6.5% of the total number of league players. Third-placed Spain then has 48 footballers among the potential participants in the championship, which is roughly 4.3% of all players.

Among the English Premier League teams that may be adversely affected by the participation of their players in the African Championship are Watford, Arsenal and Leicester. For example, Watford counts three Nigerian players (Troost-Ekong, Etebo and Dennis), Cameroonian defender N’Koulou or Moroccan players Mesina or Louza.

Arsenal’s representatives include midfielders Elneny (Egypt) and Partey (Ghana) and strikers Aubameyang (Gabon) and Pepe (Ivory Coast). In addition, Tunisian Omar Rekik, who plays for the Gunners’ reserves, could still travel to Cameroon.

Even Leicester could be missing some key players. From the first team it is Nigerian internationals Ndidi and Iheanacho, Ghana’s midfield will be strengthened by Amartey. Senegalese midfielder Mendy could also be missing. Zambia’s Patson Daka did not qualify for the final tournament.

Gerrard’s Aston Villa could also have their problems. The latter could potentially lose midfielders Nakamba (Zimbabwe) and Trezeguet (Egypt) or striker Traoré (Burkina Faso). Vier’s Crystal Palace, on the other hand, could miss strikers Zaha (Ivory Coast) and Ayew, and from the midfield Schlupp (both Ghana) or Kouyate (Senegal).

We can’t forget the big clubs either. The most absentees from the first team are clearly Liverpool, who will miss mainstays like Salah (Egypt), Mané (Senegal), Keita (Guniea) or Matip (Cameroon). Manchester United can’t count on Bailly (Ivory Coast), while Mejbri (Tunisia) and Diallo (Ivory Coast) can represent from the reserves.

London Chelsea will miss especially Cameroonian number one Mendy and Morocco’s Ziyech. Defending champions Manchester City will miss mainly Algerian winger Mahrez.

Source: Betting Odds