List of Premier League players to take part in African Cup of Nations

African Cup of Nations is on the horizon, and we are set to witness top players from the Premier League players grace this tournament on January 9. 

Many high-profile players of the Premier League will miss the club matches as they will represent their nation in the African Cup of Nations starting from January 9. 

The tournament was supposed to take place last year but was withdrawn after the rise of Covid-19 cases in Africa. Although the tournament was dubious this year as well after separatists in Cameroon were threatening to disrupt the tournament due to the rise of a new variant, ‘omicron.’

Regardless of that, African football chief Patrice Motsepe gave the green light to the Africa Cup of Nations, which will be played in Cameroon this month.

Many top Premier League clubs are set to lose their vital players until February 7. Although the rule dictates the clubs must release their players 14 days before their continental Championship or the World Cup, CAF allowed the clubs to keep their players until January 3. 

After that, the players should join their national team for the upcoming tournament, which will kick off in Cameroon.   

Many Premier League powerhouses like Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur will miss their key players.

So, we look at the top 10 distinguished players who will represent their nation in the upcoming African tournament.  

Riyad Maharez is set to miss a handful of club matches, as he will be the captain of the Algerian team for the CAF tournament. The former Leicester player has netted 26 goals and provided 34 assists for them.  

Sadio Mane scored three goals in the last AFCON tournament as Senegal finished runners-up. The Liverpool winger has found the back of the net 26 times and provided 18 assists in 80 appearances for his national team. 

Along with Mane, his Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah will also join Egypt. Since the beginning of the season, the former Roma player has been in fine form. He will spearhead Egypt in AFCON. The 29-year-old has scored 43 goals and assisted 24 times for the national team. 

Naby Keita has also been included in Guinea 27-man squad for the African Cup of Nations and will be out of the action for the club games. 

Four Arsenal stars will also miss club games. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has been in a bittersweet relation with Mikel Arteta, will play for Gabon national team in the upcoming AFCON tournament. 

At the same time, Thomas Partey will represent Ghana, and Nicolas Pepe, who is yet to prove his £72 million worth, will join Ivory Coast for the AFCON  competition. Mohamed Elneny will be out for the service as well. the Gunners' midfielder will be playing for Egypt. 

Chelsea will lose the service of key figures too as Edouard Mendy will be manned between the sticks for Senegal. He has been the most prominent player for Chelsea, keeping 34 clean sheets in 64 matches last season and hoping to carry this form for his national team. Besides Mendy, Hakim Ziyech will be seen playing for Morocco. 

Below are some other notable Premier League Players who will be part of the African Cup of Nations: