Which Premier League Clubs Will Africa Cup of Nations 2025 (AFCON) Hit Worst?

Which Premier League Clubs Will Africa Cup of Nations 2025 (AFCON) Hit Worst?

If I had to point the finger, here’s the blunt truth: the club likely to suffer the worst hit from AFCON 2025 is Sunderland AFC.

They’ll leave for Morocco with a battalion of players, and when they return? Tired. Thin. Vulnerable.

Think about it: losing so many key squad members during the thick of the season is like trying to juggle while riding a unicycle on a tightrope. For a club already adjusting to the top flight, it’s downright risky.

Why Sunderland are the biggest casualty (and not just a little bruise)

1. Massive numbers, heavy losses

The Black Cats are set to lose up to nine players to AFCON. That’s not “some rotation”—that’s a mid-season exodus.

With that many players absent, squad depth evaporates. Every substitute becomes a starter. Every starter risks burnout.

2. Clash with context: new Premier League side + big fixture list

As a club newly returned (or fighting), you’d already expect teething problems. Now add the disruption of AFCON when every game matters. Momentum, chemistry, squad depth - all likely to wobble.

3. Comparisons: others may lose stars, but less so

Other clubs will also feel the disruption; Wolverhampton Wanderers may lose five key players, and Crystal Palace and Fulham will have their own headaches, but none match Sunderland’s sheer scale.

With AFCON coming, the amount of players some clubs will miss in January is wild! pic.twitter.com/jP17Hbmvt2

— PlayCope (@PlayCope) November 13, 2025

And top clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea? They’ve got minimal or zero African players heading to AFCON, so they get a free pass.

The other contenders (in decreasing order of “ouch”)

• Wolves: Five players expected to be out. Depth is weaker than you’d like.

• Crystal Palace: Multiple midfield/wing options heading off, which hurts given their style of play.

• Fulham: Three Nigerians likely absent; not catastrophic, but shaky if form dips.

• Liverpool: Only one big loss (Mohamed Salah for Egypt), but given his importance, that still counts.

Why this isn’t doom for Sunderland (just a bright warning)

Football is full of surprises. A determined squad, smart rotation, and a bit of luck can mitigate this. But history tells us: mid-season tournaments hurt smaller clubs more than the giants.

It’s like losing your front tyres while trying to lap the field. Possible, but strained.

Final word

So, in my fan-brain, shouting as I scan the scoreboard: Sunderland is the team to watch (for all the wrong reasons) this AFCON window. If you’re planning bets, tracking league positions, or just enjoying the drama, keep one eye on the scoreboard and one eye on who’s missing.

Because when your midfield disappears for a month and you’re up against seasoned Premier League teams? It doesn’t matter if you’re punching above your weight - you’re suddenly boxing with one arm tied behind your back.