The African Cup of Nations confuses the Premier League’s calculations
The English Premier League clubs are entering a very delicate turning point in the 2025-2026 season, with the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco approaching, at a time that cannot tolerate mistakes, in which matches are piled up and battles for the top and European positions are raging, in parallel with a no less fierce struggle at the bottom of the table.
In the end, the continental championship will not remain confined to Moroccan stadiums, but rather will It casts a heavy shadow on the stadiums of Europe, specifically England, which oversees the best league in the world, as the ability of some clubs to withstand the absences will be tested.
The absence of African international players this season is not a passing detail, as the numbers reveal a clear disparity in the extent of the damage between the Premier League clubs, which puts some teams facing difficult tests, while giving others a golden opportunity to strengthen their positions.
Only three clubs will get through the African Championship period without any losses in their strength, and that is Arsenal. And Chelsea and Leeds United, whose lists do not include any player joining African teams. This stability gives these teams a clear advantage in scoring points during this period, especially in direct confrontations against teams suffering from significant absences.
On the other hand, there is a group of clubs in the limited impact zone, with the loss of only one player, namely Liverpool, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Newcastle United, and Brighton.
Although the number seems simple, its impact is significant. It may be significant, especially in the case of Liverpool with the absence of Mohamed Salah, whose importance extends beyond the goals scored to his leadership role and his ability to decide matches, which puts coach Arne Sloat in front of a real challenge, especially in light of this difficult period that the Reds are going through.
The moderately affected category includes Brentford, Tottenham, Everton, West Ham and Manchester City, with the absence of two players from each team. These clubs may feel the impact of the absences, but they have relative solutions, especially the major teams that rely on their bench. Deeper and more experienced substitutes.
The obvious impact includes Manchester United, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, with the absence of three players from each team, and concerns appear greater among the midfield and bottom clubs, as these absences may lead to a decline in results and entry into complex calculations at the bottom of the table during a short and decisive period.
Sunderland tops the list most affected by the loss of 9 players at once, followed by Wolverhampton with the absence of 5. Players, a severe blow that strikes the lines of the three teams, and puts the technical staff in front of great challenges, especially Sunderland, which is presenting a remarkable season in its return to the Premier League and is currently ranked eighth.
On the other hand, the opportunity appears ripe for Arsenal and Chelsea to take advantage of this exceptional circumstance. Arsenal leads the standings with 36 points, two points behind Manchester City, while Chelsea occupies fourth place with 28 points after 16 rounds, which may give them an advantage. Additional in the lead race and Champions League qualifying positions.
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