Every EFL Player Departing for the Africa Cup of Nations

AFCON Draws Near – Here’s Every EFL Player Heading To Morocco For The Tournament

With AFCON being only a few days away, the hype is really starting to build for Africa’s premier tournament. Players have now left their respective clubs and have made, or are making, their journey to meet up with their fellow teammates over in Morocco. With our focus on the EFL, let's take a look at who is leaving their side to play at AFCON and represent their nation to hopefully make history.

Manuel Benson (Swansea City) – Angola

The 28-year-old winger has been named in Angola’s final AFCON squad. Despite just playing six games in the championship for the Welsh side, he’s done enough to get the call-up.

He featured off the bench in their friendly against Argentina during the last international break; he has never scored for Angola so will be hoping to get his debut goal at some point during the tournament.

Issa Kabore (Wrexham) – Burkina Faso

The Manchester City loanee has played 10 times for Wrexham; picking up a hamstring injury means he hasn’t played a game since the 9th of November. Despite this, he’s still been called up, in large part thanks to the 52 games he has played for his country following his first call-up in 2019.

Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City) – Cameroon

The 21-year-old has been on fire this season, featuring in 20 out of 21 championship games. His availability has been one of his best traits; from right back he’s managed to chip in with a goal and one assist and has been a standout in this Stoke City side. Incidentally, his goal happened to be one of the best you'll see all year, a blinding solo run and finish against Bristol City.

Good lord what is this?! 🤯🤯🤯

Junior Tchamadeu that is UNREAL. Goal of the season contender. pic.twitter.com/fLKhZsMwGS

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) November 1, 2025

Edo Kayembe (Watford) – DR Congo

The versatile midfielder for the DR Congo has been a consistent starter for Watford. He’s also been called up a multitude of times for his country; he’s made 35 appearances for them and that number looks certain to increase as the tournament goes on.

Mamadou Doumbia (Watford) – Mali

The second Watford man to leave this time for the tournament is promising striker Doumbia. The 19-year-old moved to Watford last season and is slowly finding his feet over in England. He’s found the back of the net a total of five times since moving here and has scored once for his country.

Semi Ajayi (Hull City) – Nigeria

The veteran Nigerian has been in and around the EFL his whole career; from the likes of AFC Wimbledon to Rotherham and West Brom, he’s in his debut season at Hull and has been a rock at the back for them, helping them up to sixth in the league despite them only surviving relegation on goal difference the season prior.

He’s also been a constant for the Nigeria side for close to eight years, making his debut back in 2018 and has appeared in their squad every year.

Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City) – Nigeria

Another Nigerian, this time further south in the midlands, after moving from the Turkish giants Fenerbahçe, Osayi-Samuel has somewhat struggled for form, having played 14 times in the Championship.

He’s been capped 26 times for his country and been a consistent name in the squad following his first call-up in 2022.

Ryan Alebiosu (Blackburn Rovers) – Nigeria

Back-to-back-to-back Nigerians, another player who plays on the right, either at right back or as a right midfielder; he’s yet to be capped by his country.

He’s been incredibly consistent for Rovers; having played 15 90-minute games in a row shows how reliable of a player he is. However, given Rover's league position, perhaps his quality is yet to be established.

Haji Mnoga (Salford City) – Tanzania

Moving down the leagues to League Two, Haji has played 15 times this season in all competitions for Salford; he’s incredibly versatile and can play anywhere along the right-hand side.

He’s been reliable for Tanzania and has been called up every year following his debut in 2022.

Yan Valery (Sheffield Wednesday) – Tunisia

The 26-year-old has been the ever-reliable player in this struggling Sheffield Wednesday side, having played 40 games for them last season and 19 this season. He will be an incredibly big miss for the Owls, who are already undergoing enough struggles without members of their squad leaving for prolonged international duty.

This will be his fourth consecutive year of playing for the Tunisian national team.

Toby Sibbick (Burton Albion) – Uganda

The 26-year-old has been a consistent starter when fit for the Brewers; playing as a right back, he nearly always plays the full 90 minutes. He will be making his first AFCON appearance, as Uganda have qualified for the first time since 2019.

Patson Daka (Leicester City) – Zambia

Once one of the most hyped-up African talents, Daka has really struggled at Leicester, going from scoring 34 in 42 in his final season at Salzburg to just 24 goals across the five years he’s been at the Foxes.

However for his country, he’s been their main threat; having played for them since 2015, he’s racked up 15 goals for his country.

Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle) – Zimbabwe

The 29-year-old centre back has been at the club since 2021 and has struggled for consistent game time, having never played more than 29 games a season for Plymouth.

Having switched countries back in 2017 when he was playing at the England U21 level, he made his debut for Zimbabwe in 2022 and has made a total of seven appearances for his country.

Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday) – Zimbabwe

Another Zimbabwean and a second player from Sheffield Wednesday, Sean has also been an ever-present name in the starting XI; he’s made 21 appearances in all competitions and popped up with one goal from midfield.

He’s just made two previous caps for his country, which came in the last international break in November.

Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town) – Zimbabwe

A man with perhaps the greatest name ever is looking to add to his 33 caps for his country; despite just playing once in the league due to injury struggles, the veteran has still been given the call-up to help bolster a weak Zimbabwean side.

Andy Rinomhota (Reading) – Zimbabwe

Despite playing just once all season, the 28-year-old has got his call-up as he becomes the third EFL Zimbabwean to go to AFCON; having moved from Cardiff last season, he’s really struggled for game time.

Tylon Smith (QPR) – South Africa

The 20-year-old has been called up to the South African squad despite playing just one game all season, coming in the EFL Cup. He has never made an appearance for his country and will be hoping to make an impact.