The Africa Cup of Nations will again shake up Fantasy Premier League and FanYield line-ups this winter. Between early January and early February 2025, more than 40 Premier League players are set to represent their countries in Ivory Coast and beyond.

Rotations, surprise starters, and short-term punts are back on the menu.

Here’s the full breakdown of which clubs will be hit, who could profit from the absences — and when those stars are most likely to return.

Unaffected Clubs

Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds United
These three sides have no AFCON call-ups in their senior squads — meaning no disruption at all.

Clubs Affected by AFCON 2025

Aston Villa

• Evann Guessand 🇨🇮 (Côte d’Ivoire)
  Depth striker; minor impact unless Watkins picks up a knock.
  ➡ Likely back by GW20 (≈ 80 % probability).

AFC Bournemouth

• Amine Adli 🇲🇦 (Morocco)
  Useful attacking depth lost. Expect Tavernier and Sinisterra to cover wide positions.
  ➡ Morocco players: only ~28 % chance to return by GW20.

Brentford

• Dango Ouattara 🇧🇫 (Burkina Faso)
• Frank Onyeka 🇳🇬 (Nigeria)
  Both absences dent right-side options.
  ➡ Burkina Faso: 91 % back by GW20 • Nigeria: 82 %.

Brighton & Hove Albion

• Carlos Baleba 🇨🇲 (Cameroon)
  Reliable rotation midfielder gone.
  ➡ Cameroon: 83 % chance back by GW20.

Burnley

• Lyle Foster 🇿🇦 (South Africa)
• Axel Tuanzebe 🇨🇩 (DR Congo)
• Hannibal Mejbri 🇹🇳 (Tunisia)
  ➡ Foster ≈ 89 % back by GW20; Tuanzebe ≈ 83 %; Mejbri ≈ 71 %.

Crystal Palace

• Ismaïla Sarr 🇸🇳 (Senegal)
• Christantus Uche 🇳🇬 (Nigeria)
• Chadi Riad 🇲🇦 (Morocco)
• Cheick Doucouré 🇲🇱 (Mali)
  A huge midfield-wing blow. Glasner will likely push Devenny or Hughes filling the pivot. Pino is gonna be nailed 90 min man.
  ➡ Senegal ≈ 34 % back by GW20; Mali ≈ 80 %.

Everton

• Iliman Ndiaye 🇸🇳 (Senegal)
• Idrissa Gueye 🇸🇳 (Senegal)
  Both Senegalese — Everton’s entire midfield spine gone for several weeks. Expect Dibling to get minutes.
  ➡ Low chance (< 35 %) back before GW20.

Fulham

• Alex Iwobi 🇳🇬, Calvin Bassey 🇳🇬, Samuel Chukwueze 🇳🇬
  Three Nigerians away simultaneously could completely change Fulham’s shape. Wilson & Smith Rowe.
  ➡ Most return by GW20 (≈ 82 % probability).

Liverpool

• Mohamed Salah 🇪🇬 (Egypt)
  The headline absence of the entire tournament. Isak probably on pens. Ngumoha might get substantial time.
  ➡ Egypt ≈ 64 % back by GW20 — not before.

Manchester United

• Bryan Mbeumo 🇨🇲 (Cameroon)
• Noussair Mazraoui 🇲🇦 (Morocco)
• Amad Diallo 🇨🇮 (Côte d’Ivoire)
  Depth and creativity hit, but main core remains. Look for Šeško and Cunha to cement spots up front and one less competitor for penalties.
  ➡ Côte d’Ivoire ≈ 80 %; Cameroon ≈ 83 %; Morocco ≈ 28 % back by GW20.

Manchester City

• Rayan Aït-Nouri 🇩🇿 (Algeria)
• Omar Marmoush 🇪🇬 (Egypt)
  Both rotational options; City’s depth covers them easily.  O’Reilly minutes will rise. Gvardiol may shift left too. While Marmoush absence could cement Cherki minutes.
  ➡ Algeria ≈ 57 % and Egypt ≈ 64 % return by GW20.

Newcastle United

• Yoane Wissa 🇨🇩 (DR Congo)
  Another attacking loss — will open minutes for Woltemade.
  ➡ ≈ 83 % back by GW20.

Nottingham Forest

• Ola Aina 🇳🇬, Willy Boly 🇨🇮, Ibrahim Sangaré 🇨🇮
  A real blow across defence and midfield. Expect Murillo and Yates to hold the fort through January.
  ➡ Ivorians ≈ 80 % back by GW20.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Yves Bissouma 🇲🇱
• Pape Matar Sarr 🇸🇳
  Two central midfield starters gone — but Spurs have Bentancur and Palhinha ready.
  ➡ Bissouma ≈ 80 % back by GW20; Sarr ≈ 34 %.

Sunderland

(newly promoted – and badly hit)

• Simon Adingra 🇨🇮, Bertrand Traoré 🇧🇫, Habib Diarra 🇸🇳, Chemsdine Talbi 🇲🇦, Reinildo Mandava 🇲🇿, Arthur Masuaku 🇨🇩, Noah Sadiki 🇨🇩, Blondy Nna Noukeu 🇨🇲, Ahmed Abdullahi 🇳🇬
  No team suffers more. Nearly half their bench and several rotation pieces depart. Expect heavy academy involvement.
  ➡ Most return between GW20 and GW21 (75–95 % range).

West Ham United

• El Hadji Malick Diouf 🇸🇳
• Aaron Wan-Bissaka 🇨🇩
  Two unexpected absences — depth at RB and CB will be tested.
  ➡ Senegal ≈ 34 %; DR Congo ≈ 83 % back by GW20.

Wolves

• Emmanuel Agbadou 🇨🇮
• Jackson Tchatchoua 🇨🇲
• Tawanda Chirewa 🇿🇼
• Marshall Munetsi 🇿🇼
• Tolu Arokodare 🇳🇬
  Five potential departures — a serious midfield void.
  ➡ Zimbabwe players ~ 99 % back by GW20; others ≈ 80–83 %.

When Will They Be Back?

Group stage ends → 31 DecEarly returns (GW18–19): Low (< 30 %) for most.
Likely back by GW20 (mid-Jan): Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nigeria, Mali (≈ 75–85 %).
Safe by GW21–22: All teams (100 %).

AFCON Players Staying in the Premier League

A few African-born players won’t leave because their countries didn’t qualify:

• Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
• Antoine Semenyo (Ghana)

Both remain solid FPL/FanYield assets during the tournament window.