AFCON 2025: Key Player Injuries Ahead Of Tournament Kickoff

As of December 17, 2025, several key players set to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 are dealing with injuries, affecting both team strategies and club preparations. The tournament kicks off in Morocco on December 21, 2025.

Senegal has taken a calculated risk by including three injured players in their 28-man squad: Assane Diao, Habib Diarra, and Ismaila Sarr. Coach Pape Thiaw expressed confidence in the medical staff’s ability to have them match-fit in time. Diao (Como) has a recent thigh injury, Diarra (Sunderland) has been sidelined since September after groin surgery, and Sarr (Crystal Palace) suffers from ankle ligament damage, missing his club’s last three matches.Other notable players missing the tournament due to injury or fitness concerns include: Wilfried Singo (Ivory Coast): Out with a muscle tear sustained in late November. André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon): Misses out due to a left thigh muscular injury. Cheick Doucoure (Mali): Sidelined with a severe knee injury, unlikely to return until after AFCON. Hakim Ziyech (Morocco): Has not played since May and faces an uphill battle to regain match fitness.* Yoane Wissa (DR Congo): Posterior cruciate ligament damage and illness ruled him out. Ola Aina, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Taiwo Awoniyi (Nigeria): Hamstring and abdominal injuries prevented inclusion. Marshall Munetsi (Zimbabwe): Left out despite recovering from injury. Themba Zwane (South Africa): Persistent injury issues excluded him from the squad.

These absences have significant implications for clubs as well. Manchester United will lose Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui. Sunderland loses six players, including Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Reinildo Mandava, Bertrand Traoré, and Chemsdine Talbi. Galatasaray is missing Victor Osimhen, Wilfried Singo, Mario Lemina, and Ismael Jakobs, while Fulham loses Nigerian internationals Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, and Calvin Bassey.Official injury reports from CAF and national federations confirm these absences, underlining the challenges teams face in fielding their strongest squads for the continental tournament.