With over 600 players set to be at the AFCON, other stars will be missing due to injuries, and others from Africa’s biggest competition.

By Ayobami Okerinde

With just a few days until the start of the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, the biggest stars in world football, such as Mohammed Salah and Victor Osimhen, will be on parade for their countries to win the coveted trophy.

Teams are in the latter stages of their preparation, with some playing friendly games, while teams like Morocco and Guinea-Bissau have arrived in the host country, ready for the tournament proper.

With over 600 players set to be at the AFCON, other stars will be missing due to injuries, and others from Africa’s biggest competition.

Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria)

Ndidi was named initially in Nigeria’s 25-man squad for AFCON, but the 27-year-old won’t be playing in his third AFCON after suffering a muscle injury in the 2-0 win over Cardiff on December 29.

Leicester boss Enzo Maresca says the midfielder faces up to three months on the sidelines, which could affect his side’s bid to return to the Premier League.

Royal Antwerp’s Alhassan Yussuf has since replaced the injured Ndidi.

Thomas Partey (Ghana)

Arsenal midfielder, Thomas Partey has been left out of Ghana’s squad for the AFCON after suffering from fitness issues this season.

Partey was initially named in Chris Hughton’s 55-man preliminary squad, but AFCON comes too early for the midfielder, who has been out since October.

The 30-year-old’s absence has been described as a big loss for the Black Stars.

Wilfred Zaha (Ivory Coast)

Wilfred Zaha’s omission from the Ivory Coast squad has come as a surprise for many, especially among fans of the host nation.

While details of his ouster is not known, there are reports that coach Jean-Louis Gasset overlooked the 31-year-old after missing the qualifiers for the AFCON as well as the first round of qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Zaha’s last competitive appearance for Ivory Coast was at the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.

Taiwo Awoniyi (Nigeria)

Taiwo Awoniyi will have to wait for another AFCON tournament after making his debut two years ago in Cameroon.

The Nottingham Forest forward scored four goals in 10 games before he suffered a groin injury.

Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)

The Brentford forward has been a key player in the Premier League with seven goals and three assists.

The 24-year-old has undergone cruciate ligament surgery, and he’s set to be out for 12 weeks.

The Indomitable Lions will have to look elsewhere for goals at the AFCON. Mbeumo has played 14 times for Cameroon, scoring three goals.

Baba Rahman (Ghana)

PAOK FC’s left-back will miss Ghana’s bid to win the AFCON it last lifted 42 years ago.

The 29-year-old was left out due to his injury record and doesn’t cut as a popular figure anymore among Ghanaian football fans, who booed him in an AFCON qualifier game against the Central African Republic in 2022.

Baba Rahman earlier admitted that his previous injuries have affected his gameplay.

Issahaku Fatawu (Ghana)

Fatawu is one of the players who will miss AFCON, not due to injuries but because of a loan agreement between his parent club Sporting CP and his loan team, Leicester City.

The 19-year-old, according to reports, opted to miss the AFCON to meet up with a clause in his contract that requires him to play some games to make his move permanent to the Foxes.

Vanguard News