The 2025/26 Premier League campaign is already shaping up to be one of the most compelling in recent memory, with drama unfolding at both the summit and the lower reaches of the table.
Arsenal are mounting a serious challenge in their pursuit of long-awaited domestic success, while Manchester United are beginning to show encouraging signs of revival under the guidance of Ruben Amorim.
As the season gathers momentum, the battle for the title and European qualification is steadily intensifying.
Yet, just as clubs begin to build rhythm ahead of the demanding festive period, managers must once again prepare for a familiar disruption: the Africa Cup of Nations.
AFCON 2025, which will be staged in Morocco, is scheduled to take place during the heart of the European domestic season.
As has often been the case, the tournament will deprive Premier League clubs of several influential players at a crucial point in the calendar.
With fixtures coming thick and fast across the league, domestic cups, and European competitions, the absence of key personnel could have a decisive impact on title ambitions, top-four races, and relegation battles alike.
High-profile stars such as Mohamed Salah and Bryan Mbeumo are among those expected to represent their nations, leaving their clubs to cope without them for potentially several weeks.
For many teams, this period will test squad depth, tactical flexibility, and the ability of fringe players to step up when called upon.
AFCON 2025: Important Dates
As with previous editions, AFCON will run alongside England’s domestic competitions, overlapping with one of the busiest stretches of the footballing calendar.
Tournament Timeline:
Group Stage: December 21 – December 31
Round of 16: January 3 – January 6
Quarter-finals: January 9 – January 10
Semi-finals: January 14
Third-place Playoff & Final: January 17 – January 18
Depending on how deep their national teams advance in the tournament, some Premier League players could be unavailable for close to a month.
This absence may see them miss key league fixtures, FA Cup ties, Carabao Cup matches, and even European knockout games.
Premier League Clubs and AFCON Impact
Here is a breakdown of how select Premier League sides will be affected — or spared — by AFCON 2025.
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta’s squad has been carefully assembled with balance and versatility in mind, and the Gunners receive a significant advantage during this period.
Arsenal will not lose a single player to AFCON, allowing them to maintain continuity and momentum while rivals adjust to absences.
AFCON Absentees: None
Aston Villa
After a measured start to the campaign, Unai Emery’s Aston Villa have surged into contention at the top end of the table.
Like Arsenal, Villa will remain fully intact during AFCON, with none of their players selected for national duty. This continuity could prove invaluable as they navigate a congested fixture list.
AFCON Absentees: None
Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth will also avoid disruption. Ghana’s failure to qualify for the tournament rules out Antoine Semenyo’s involvement, while other eligible players were not named in final squads.
As a result, the Cherries can approach the festive schedule without concerns over international call-ups.
