The Africa Cup of Nations begins on Sunday in Morocco, with 32 Premier League players selected to represent their national teams. Sunderland are the hardest hit, losing six players – the highest number of any club – a tally that doubles the next most affected teams.
Sunderland will be without Bertrand Traoré, Arthur Masuaku, Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi, Reinildo Mandava and Habib Diarra. They have collectively played 4,412 minutes and made 61 Premier League appearances this season. Sadiki, who has missed just 26 minutes, is a key midfield presence alongside Granit Xhaka. Traoré and Talbi are also among the club's top chance creators. The only consolation for manager Régis Le Bris is that Simon Adingra was left out of Côte d'Ivoire's squad.
Manchester United are losing Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui. Mbeumo is United's top league scorer with six goals, while Amad has created 25 chances. Fulham will be without Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze; Iwobi has played every league match and is the club's leading chance creator with 23.
Burnley are losing three players: Axel Tuanzebe, Hannibal Mejbri and Lyle Foster. Everton will feel the absence of Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye; Ndiaye has the most goal involvements for the Blues with six. West Ham are without first-choice full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf, who account for nearly 40% of their crosses from open play. Manchester City's Omar Marmoush and Rayan Aït-Nouri are heading to the tournament having played limited league minutes.
