Which clubs will feel the absence of their African stars the most when the tournament kicks off in Cameroon in early January?
Premier League
2021
Africa Cup
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Eredivisie
First Division A
of Nations
Most minutes played this season by players who are likely to be selected for the Africa Cup of Nations*
Who will have the biggest gap in their squad?
Sarr (963), Troost-Ekong (900), Masina (495), Etebo (371), Louza (45)
Watford
Zaha (834), Ayew (651), Kouyate (633), Schlupp (198)
Salah (990), Mane (915), Keita (362)
Aubameyang (788), Partey (543), Pepe (484), Elneny (50)
2,774
2,316
2,267
1,865
1,543
Ndidi (630), Amartey (516), Iheanacho (397)
938
Saiss (938)
912
Benrahma (912)
900
Mendy (900)
532
Onyeka (532)
456
Iwobi (456)
409
Djenepo (409)
364
Cornet (364)
356
Nakamba (356)
265
Mahrez (265)
45
Bailly (45)
Claudio Ranieri’s task of steering Watford clear of relegation danger will be made more difficult in January with 5 of his players potentially heading to the tournament. Crystal Palace’s momentum under Patrick Vieira could also be disrupted by the absence of Wilfried Zaha.
Most goals scored in the league this season by players who are likely to be selected for the Africa Cup of Nations*
Who will be left short of firepower?
Liverpool
Salah (10), Mane (6), Keita (2)
18
Crystal Palace
Arsenal
Leicester
Wolves
West Ham
Chelsea
Brentford
Everton
Southampton
Burnley
Aston Villa
Man City
Man Utd
5
Zaha (4), Schlupp (1)
Aubameyang (4), Partey (1)
4
Cornet (4)
Sarr (4)
3
Benrahma (3)
2
Mahrez (2)
1
Iheanacho (1)
Saiss (1)
Iwobi (1)
Liverpool’s title challenge will surely falter with two of their three first-choice forwards absent. Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane already have 16 goals between them this season.
* Players who have appeared in a World Cup qualifying match since the start of 2020 for a nation that has qualified for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations
Data correct as at 18 November 2021
Bounou (900), En-Nesyri (450), Munir (173)
Sevilla
Mandi (630), Dia (453), Aurier (236), Chukwueze (178)
Baba (995), Junior (177)
N'Diaye (780)
1,523
1,497
1,172
780
426
Aidoo (426)
416
Akapo (416)
Newly-promoted Mallorca have steered clear of the relegation battle so far, but the absence of first-team regular Iddrisu Baba could cause problems. Only Sevilla and Villarreal have relied more on players who are likely to be heading to Cameroon in January.
Villarreal
Mallorca
Alaves
Celta Vigo
Cadiz
En-Nesyri (3), Munir (1)
Dia (1)
Baba (1)
N'Diaye (1)
In addition to losing the services of their first-choice goalkeeper Yassine Bonou, Sevilla will have to manage without the goals of his Morocco team-mate Youssef En-Nesyri.
Koulibaly (976), Zambo Anguissa (880), Osimhen (793), Ounas (100)
Napoli
Kessie (666), Bennacer (502)
Kechrida (552), Coulibaly (498)
Boga (571), Traore (448)
2,749
1,168
1,050
1,019
802
Fares (470), Ekuban (332)
731
Aina (731)
470
Balde (470)
Ebuehi (456)
384
Maleh (193), Amrabat (191)
314
Hongla (314)
229
Akpa Akpro (229)
145
Michael (76), Mbaye (69)
Diawara (7)
Napoli have been the most reliant on potentially absent African talent this season, with star defender Kalilou Koulibaly particularly difficult to replace.
Osimhen (5), Koulibaly (2)
7
Milan
Salernitana
Sassuolo
Genoa
Torino
Cagliari
Venezia
Fiorentina
Hellas Verona
Lazio
Bologna
Roma
Kessie (2), Bennacer (1)
Balde (2)
Napoli will also miss the goals of new signing Victor Osimhen if he is selected by Nigeria. The Milan midfield will also look less formidable without Ivorian Franck Kessie patrolling it.
Potential minutes lost
Most minutes played in the league this season by players who have appeared in a World Cup Qualifier for a nation that has qualified for the AFCON since the start of 2020
Fares (2)
Traore (1)
Kossounou (790), Tapsoba (239)
Leverkusen
Akpoguma (582), Samassekou (437)
Haidara (838)
Awoniyi (789)
1,029
838
789
569
Skhiri (569)
418
Marmoush (418)
406
Bensebaini (406)
180
Choupo-Moting (132), Sarr (48)
95
Barkok (95)
24
Marmoush (24)
Leverkusen and Hoffenheim have each given over 1,000 league minutes to players who could be unavailable in January. Malian Diadié Samassékou has been a regular feature in the latter’s midfield over the last few seasons and would be missed.
Union Berlin
Awoniyi (7)
Hoffenheim
Leipzig
Köln
Stuttgart
Gladbach
Bayern
Frankfurt
Wolfsburg
Choupo-Moting (3)
Haidara (2)
Akpoguma (1)
Marmoush (1)
Taiwo Awoniyi’s goals have been keeping Union Berlin competitive this season - he has netted 7 of their 17 in the Bundesliga so far - and his departure could see them slip down the table.
Skhiri (3)
Oukidja (1,168), Bronn (989), Maiga (923), Sarr (918), Kouyate (776), Boulaya (430), Alakouch (150), Vagner (83), Fofana (32)
Metz
Khazri (1,057), Moukoudi (945), Bouanga (841), Neyou (818), Sow (675)
Aguerd (1,170), Gomis (1,080), Traore (1,065), Sulemana (766)
Lemina (842), Delort (717), Atal (709), Kamara (544), Boudaoui (535)
5,469
4,336
4,081
3,347
2,698
Kouame (1,170), Kabore (802), Balde (726)
2,650
Konan (990), Kebbal (763), Toure (466), Cassama (431)
1,597
Djiku (949), Diallo (633), Siby (15)
2,281
Simon (1,080), Castelletto (986), Coulibaly (215)
2,140
Toko Ekambi (1,018), Diomande (576), Slimani (349), Kadewere (132), Cornet (65)
2,119
Hakimi (881), Gueye (650), Diallo (588)
1,976
Bayo (912), Allevinah (641), Khaoui (271), Billong (152)
The French league will be the hardest-hit by African absences, with Metz potentially losing almost a whole starting line-up worth of players. Captain Dylan Bronn of Tunisia would be one of the hardest to replace.
St Etienne
Khazri (7), Bouanga (2), Sow (2)
11
Rennes
Nice
Troyes
Reims
Strasbourg
Nantes
Lyon
PSG
Clermont
Nice Palace
8
Delort (5), Boudaoui (2), Atal (1)
Sulemana (4), Aguerd (2), Traore (1)
Cassama (2), Kebbal (1)
Saint-Etienne are in relegation trouble at the moment and losing top scorer Wahbi Khazri - another Tunisian star - for a month would surely exacerbate the problem.
Lens
1,454
Doucoure (955), Ganago (409), Fortes (90)
Bordeaux
1,270
Onana (487), Kalu (316), Mensah (292), Medioub (175)
Angers
1,249
Boufal (916), Bahoken (331), Thioub (2)
Lorient
997
Moffi (997)
Marseille
925
Gueye (490), Dieng (435)
Brest
740
Belkebla (740)
Montpellier
269
Delort (269)
Monaco
237
Diatta (237)
Diallo (7)
6
Hakimi (3), Gueye (3)
Boulaya (2), Kouyate (1), Maiga (1), Bronn (1)
Toko Ekambi (4), Slimani (1)
Boufal (3), Bahoken (2)
Balde (3)
Castelletto (1), Simon (1), Coulibaly (1)
Onana (2), Kalu (1)
Ganago (3)
Dieng (3)
Delort (2)
Moffi (2)
Bayo (7)
Haller (989), Kudus (196)
Ajax
Okoye (1,080)
El Karouani (1,051)
Touba (990)
1,185
1,080
1,051
990
845
Zerrouki (845)
741
Sangare (741)
366
Sambissa (366)
365
Ajax’s title challenge may suffer in the absence of their African star, while Sparta may find themselves slipping further into relegation danger without their young Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.
Haller (7), Kudus (1)
Sparta
NEC
RKC
Twente
PSV
Cambuur
AZ Alkmaar
Sangare (2)
Sambissa (2)
Zerrouki (1)
Aboukhlal (1)
Sebastian Haller has reignited his career at Ajax, with 7 league goals so far this season and another 7 in the Champions League. Someone else will need to step up if the Ivory Coast require his services.
Koffi (1,260), Zorgane (935)
Charleroi
Amallah (691), Sissako (670), Rafia (295), Tapsoba (273), Fai (91)
Rocha Santos (1,134), Fortes (404)
Agbadou (1,158)
2,195
2,020
1,538
1,158
1,144
Cisse (1,144)
1,126
Gouet (1,126)
943
Chakla (539), Kaba (404)
941
Onuachu (941)
909
Halaimia (909)
874
Kouame (616), Ashimeru (258)
Charleroi are getting back to their best after a poor showing last season, but their recovery could be undermined if Burkina Faso have a good tournament. Goalkeeper Hervé Koffi is first choice for both club and country.
Genk
Onuachu (10)
10
Standard Liege
KV Oostende
Eupen
Seraing
KV Mechelen
OH Leuven
Beerschot AC
Anderlecht
Agbadou (4)
Kaba (4)
Zorgane (1)
Genk have relied heavily on Paul Onuachu’s goals this season, so if Nigeria come calling in January then their attacking output will surely suffer.
Antwerp
498
Seck (498)
Kouame (3), Ashimeru (1)
Amallah (2), Tapsoba (2)
