The Africa Cup of Nations 2022 is underway, and many Premier League players will take on leading roles in the 33rd edition of the African national team championship.
The 31 EPL players in the competition face a minimum of three group stage matches, which means they will remain in service with the national team until at least January 20. In the group stage, eight teams will be eliminated and, after a short break, the competition will proceed to the knockout phase of a single game that begins with the round of 16.
As well as seeing how far their favorite players can advance, Premier League fans will also be on the lookout for their potential return. If a national team reaches the AFCON final, those players will remain in Cameroon until February 6.
MORE: Man United transfer window overview
Key dates of the AFCON 2022 tournament
Here’s how the AFCON tournament schedule breaks down:
- GarmentGroup stage: Sunday, January 9 – Thursday, January 20
- round of 16: Sunday, January 23 – Wednesday, January 26
- Quarter finals: Saturday, January 29 – Sunday, January 30
- Semifinals: Wednesday February 2 – Thursday February 3
- Final match and for third place: Sunday, February 6
MORE: Complete AFCON 2022 Match Schedule
When will the Premier League players return to the clubs?
Premier League players at AFCON 2022 will try to get as deep into the tournament as possible. Here’s a full list of each Premier League club’s players in the tournament, how they’re doing, and when they might return with your club.
MORE: Updated AFCON Group Rankings
Arsenal
Ghana lost a heartthrob to Morocco on a late goal and Tomas Partey it was 90 minutes before a late replacement. The Black Stars will like to see their chances of recovering against Comoros and Gabon closer.
The other Arsenal players will be in action in the coming days, though Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang It was left out of Gabon’s inaugural victory due to a positive test for COVID-19.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon – Group C)
- Mohamed Elneny (Egypt – Group D)
- Thomas Partey (Ghana – Group C)
- Nicolás Pepe (Ivory Coast – Group E)
Aston Villa
Bertrand Traoré captained Burkina Faso against host nation Cameroon and despite a 2-1 loss, the team performed well enough to give its fans hope of getting out of the group.
Trézeguet could see action for Egypt against Nigeria in their opening Group D match. A knee injury kept wonderful nakamba join Zimbabwe in the event.
- Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso – Group A)
- Mahmoud Trezeguet (Egypt – Group D
Brentford
Frank onyeka begins its AFCON tournament on Tuesday with Nigeria.
julian jeanvier did not make the final AFCON team from Guinea, and Tarique Fosu-Henry The Ghana team also missed out after failing to make a single Premier League appearance this season.
- Frank Onyeka (Nigeria – Group D)
Brighton
Mali will be one of the last teams to take the field when they face Tunisia on Wednesday.
- Yves Bissouma (Mali – Group F)
Burnley
It remains to be seen if Cornet Maxwel He will be able to burst into the lineup on a star-studded side of Côte d’Ivoire when the Elephants begin their tournament on Wednesday.
- Maxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast – Group E)
Chelsea
chelsea goalkeeper Eduardo Mendy was one of the players who was forced to sit down due to a positive test for COVID-19.
Regular call Morocco Hakim Ziech he was left out of the team due to a break with the manager and his nation still beat a strong Ghanaian team without him.
- Edouard Mendy (Senegal – Group B)
crystal Palace
Jordan ayew He started as a forward for Ghana and spent 86 minutes in the 1-0 loss to Morocco. Ghana left Crystal Palace teammate Ayew, jeffrey schlupp, out of the team.
Cheikhou Kouyate He made the full 90s in his familiar central midfield position as Senegal emerged victorious to begin their AFCON 2022 campaign. wifrido zaha and Ivory Coast will play Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday.
- Jordan Ayew (Ghana – Group C)
- Chiekhou Kouyate (Senegal – Group B)
- Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast – Group E)
Everton
Alex Iwobi and Nigeria opens with a tough duel against Mohamed Salah and Egypt (Tuesday).
Jean Philippe Gbamin, who has only three Premier League appearances this season for the Toffees and has reportedly been asked to find a new club, has been left out of the Ivory Coast team.
- Alex Iwobi (Nigeria – Group D)
Leicester city
daniel love you, who has been on a hot streak with Leicester, turned 90 as a central defender for Ghana in the loss to Morocco. He is listed to play an important role on this team during the competition.
Nampalys mendy was involved in the COVID-19 outbreak that affected Senegal before it opened. Meanwhile, Nigeria will play its first match on Tuesday.
- Daniel Amartey (Ghana – Group C)
- Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria – Group D)
- Nampalys Mendy (Senegal – Group B)
- Wilfried Ndidi (Nigeria – Group D)
Liverpool
sadio melena He has already been decisive for tournament favorite Senegal, scoring the penalty kick in injury time in a 1-0 win over Zimbabwe. Y naby keita made the full 90 for Guinea in their first 1-0 game over Malawi.
His teammate, Mohamed salah, will have his hands full with Egypt against Nigeria on Tuesday.
- Naby Keita (Guinea – Group B)
- Sadio Mané (Senegal – Group B)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt – Group D)
Manchester city
Riad mahrez and Algeria take the field for the first time on Tuesday, looking to extend their 34-game unbeaten streak.
- Riyad Mahrez (Algeria – Group E)
United manchester
Ivory Coast are the latest team to make their AFCON 2022 debut in a match against Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday. united man eric bailly is on the team, but Amad Diallo It is not.
- Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast – Group E)
Southampton
Mali and Moussa djenepo will kick off their participation in AFCON 2022 on Wednesday.
Mohamed salisu did not join Ghana, and his compatriots were not happy.
- Moussa Djenepo (Mali – Group F)
Watford
Morocco began their participation in AFCON 2022 with a close 1-0 victory over Ghana. Adam Masina played the 90 minutes as a left back and clubmate imran louza He started and spent 78 minutes in the center of the field.
Goalkeeper Okoye Stores and defender William Troost Ekong will look to help Nigeria get off to a good start against Egypt and Mohamed Salah.
Pedro Etebo will not be with Nigeria due to injury, while ismaila sarr he was not released to Senegal after a controversial fight between clubs and countries.
- Imran Louza (Morocco – Group C)
- Adam Masina (Morocco – Group C)
- Madoko Okoye (Nigeria – Group D)
- William Troost-Ekong (Nigeria – Group D)
west ham
After a strong first half of the season with West Ham, Said Benrahma he hopes his form will carry over to AFCON with Algeria, starting with the first match against Sierra Leone.
- Said Benrahma (Algeria – Group E)
Wolves
Romain saiss captained Morocco in their 1-0 win over Ghana. Wolf Defender Companion willy boly he hopes to replicate the result with the Ivory Coast on Wednesday.
- Willy Boly (Ivory Coast – Group E)
- Romain Saiss (Morocco – Group C)
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.