The Africa Cup of Nations is back and once again it’s crashing headfirst into the Premier League and your your festive football plans like a pissed uncle at Christmas dinner. From December 21st to January 18th, over 45 Premier League players will chase continental glory and leave their fantasy club managers quietly weeping into spreadsheets. Six rounds of league games, the FA Cup third round, and a Carabao Cup semi-final. Cheers, CAF.
It’s a nightmare for some clubs (Sunderland, we’re looking at you), a breeze for others (Newcastle, enjoy your clean sheets), and a minefield for fantasy managers unless you’re smart about it.
Here’s your club-by-club guide to who’s off to Morocco, who replaces them, and what it means for your squad.
Sunderland
The surprise package of the season becomes the surprise package of AFCON chaos. Sunderland could lose up to SEVEN players including Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku and Noah Sadiki (DR Congo), Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Habib Diarra (Senegal), and possibly even Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast).
That’s potentially half their outfield squad gone. They’ve already been punching above their weight, but this could knock them out cold. Expect defensive rotation chaos and a lack of pace on the wings.
Replacements: Entire academy.Avoid Sunderland assets across AFCON. Even the nailed-on starters won’t have the same structure around them.
Fantasy angle: That’s half a team gone. Run far away. Leeds, City, and Palace will feast.
Wolves
A club already allergic to goals and structure, Wolves could lose Marshall Munetsi and Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast), Jackson Tchatchoua (Cameroon), and possibly Tolu Arokodare (Nigeria). They’re 20th and look it. This could make it uglier.
Replacements: , Sarabia, Bellegarde step in. Not worth the pain.
Fantasy angle: Wolves defensively shaky boost opposition attackers. Bueno remains a differential pick.
Crystal Palace
They could be without Cheick Doucouré (Mali), Chadi Riad (Morocco), Christantus Uche (Nigeria), and Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), although Sarr might miss out injured.
Oliver Glasner’s Palace are the kings of doing just enough. This AFCON cluster could test that theory. Losing Sarr and Doucouré would rip pace and stability right out of the system.
Replacements: Mateta, Guehi and Munoz probably stay solid, but attacking options lose some shine.
Fantasy angle: Big losses. Guehi, Munoz and Mateta now carry all the upside.
Nottingham Forest
The never-ending Forest rebuild takes another turn. Boly and Sangaré (Ivory Coast), Aina and Awoniyi (Nigeria) are all likely gone. With Dyche now steering this ship, the loss of physical midfielders like Sangaré will sting. Expect some 4-4-2 ball and heavy crosses. No, seriously.
Replacements: Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi. Gibbs-White might benefit from extra responsibility. Defensive assets not worth it.
Fantasy angle: Forest already fragile. Stay away unless desperate for a Diouf dart throw.
Manchester United
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon) is definitely gone. Mazraoui (Morocco) and Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) are probable. Mbeumo has been a rare shining light. His absence makes United more one-dimensional. Mazraoui’s loss opens up minutes for Dalot or Dorgu. Amad and Mbeumo are a big loss here.
Replacements: Dalot get major boosts.
Fantasy angle: Zirkzee becomes a budget darling. Avoid the keeper situation entirely.
Fulham
Iwobi, Bassey, and Chukwueze all likely off with Nigeria. That’s a lot of Fulham’s energy and ball progression. They’re already inconsistent. This makes it worse. Chukwueze especially has been key in high-scoring games of late.
Replacements: Harry Wilson is having the season of his life, Smith Rowe should play more, Robinson might return, but honestly? Avoid until they’re whole again.
Fantasy angle: Major midfield minutes open up. Wilson, Smith Rowe or Muniz worth a punt for attacking points.
Burnley
Lyle Foster (South Africa), Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), and Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia) are all going. Foster is the only meaningful FPL loss, but he was already rotation-prone.
Replacements: Avoid Burnley anyway. This doesn’t help. Vitinho, Amdouni, Cullen.
Fantasy angle: With Foster gone, Burnley are even less attacking. Target opposition for clean sheets.
Everton
Senegal are calling up Ndiaye and Gueye. Morocco might take Aznou. No great disaster here, but Gueye’s shielding will be missed if the schedule gets hairy.
Replacements: Garner,, and Tarkowski become even more vital. Pickford if fixtures favour them.
Fantasy angle: Grealish (still loving that it’s real), and Garner are great picks. Pickford’s value spikes.
Manchester City
Omar Marmoush (Egypt) is the main departure. Aït-Nouri (Algeria) could be a late call-up. Marmoush hasn’t been a staple. City will be fine.
Replacements: Nothing major. Just make sure Haaland is still alive, Doku get more starts, that is all.
Fantasy angle: Haaland untouched, but keep an eye on rotation because yano pep roulette.
Brentford
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso) is off. Onyeka (Nigeria) could join him.
This hurts depth, not core. Dango has shown flashes but Brentford can rotate.
Replacements: Schade and Damsgaard to pick up slack.
Fantasy angle: Backline is fairly intact but the midfield loses bite. Prioritise, Collins, and Janelt.
Tottenham
Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal) and Bissouma (Mali) could go.
They’ve been essential in Thomas Frank’s high-energy system. Ange had vibes. Frank has structure. Losing both could be a wobble.
Replacements: Bentancur, Kudus owners rejoice. Maddison stock rise
Fantasy angle: Big Kudus season incoming. Porro even more nailed. Son to carry even more weight.
West Ham
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo) is confirmed. Diouf (Senegal) likely.Nuno needs every defender he can get. Diouf’s attacking threat will be missed.
Replacements: Kilman or Mavropanos might become better value.
Fantasy angle: Summerville and Bowen are still strong. Diouf’s attacking runs will be missed but Paquetá remains a pick.
Liverpool
Just Salah. But that’s a BIG “just”. Well it was until about a week ago, is this the Salah farewell tour? Isak, Ekitike, Gakpo will fight for time. Salah missing the festive period is tradition now.
Replacements: Isak, Wirtz & Ekitike its time to step up.
Fantasy angle: Time to short Salah, and maybe gamble on Gravenberch. Gakpo could explode being the only ever present so far this season.
Aston Villa
Only Guessand (Ivory Coast). Not a regular.
Replacements: As you were here really, if you were picking Guessand in your team, you have bigger problems.
Fantasy angle: Villa’s tough fixtures make this a wait-and-see, but McGinn, and Konsa could offer additonal sneaky points with Guessand gone.
Brighton
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon) goes. He’s been goodish to solid, but Brighton’s system covers for midfield rotation well.
Replacements: Hinshelwood, Gomez , or Rutter may get more minutes.
Fantasy angle: Baleba’s ball-winning is big, but Mitoma and Van Hecke are still the assets to trust.
Bournemouth
Adli (Morocco) likely to go. Semenyo stays. Ghana didn’t qualify.
Replacements: Antoine Semenyo avoids the AFCON trip thanks to Ghana’s failure to qualify and stays a hot hot hot asset.
Fantasy angle: Semenyo and Co’s minutes are safe. Billing could step into more creative duties without Adli.
Newcastle
Zero players affected.
Replacements: N/A
Fantasy angle: Clean sheet potential rises. Pope, Burn, Trippier become hot picks.
Arsenal
Zero players affected. None
Replacements: You’re already stacked. Stop being smug.
Fantasy angle: Zero disruption. Arsenal players are now premium assets during this stretch, especially defenders and midfielders like Saliba and Rice with guaranteed minutes.
Chelsea
Zero players affected.
Replacements: Already deep, Enzo, Palmer, Pedro, and co are still the assets to have.
Fantasy angle: No disruption. Triple up if the fixtures are kind.
Leeds
Zero players affected.
Replacements: Does this help Leeds at all? Probably not
Fantasy angle: A rare fully available squad. Stach, Strand Larsen, gain in value.
Final Word
Sunderland, Wolves and Palace get clattered. Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and Leeds walk away like smug little gremlins. Salah’s absence was the biggest single fantasy concern, while Sunderland are the biggest collective mess. Pro tip, Don’t just avoid AFCON-absent players, target the guys stepping into their roles.
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