The Africa Cup of Nations is an historic event steeped in culture and tradition, and the latest edition of the tournament will crown the next continental champion across FIFA’s largest confederation.
With this year’s tournament moved to January and February 2024 due to scheduling delays hanging over from the Covid-19 pandemic, players with participating nations will be forced to depart their clubs mid-season and link up with their international teammates to take part in the African tournament.
Thus, clubs around the Premier League and further across Europe will have no choice but to bid farewell to some of their most important players during a busy time of year.
Manchester United have a few key players who are likely to take part in the tournament, and could be absent for up to a month – depending on how long their nations remain in the competition. The Sporting News details the United players most likely to be involved and how long they could potentially be absent.
MORE: Which Arsenal players will compete at AFCON 2024?
When is AFCON 2023? Fixtures, dates Man United players could miss
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will run from mid-January through mid-February of 2024, with players leaving their clubs during that time for international duty.
A total of 24 nations will be involved in the final tournament, with the group stage lasting 11 days. The top two finishers in each group will advance to the Round of 16, plus another four third-place finishers. Then, through the first half of February, the sides will slowly be pared down until the final on February 11.
Stage
Dates
Nations
Group Stage
Jan. 13 — 24
24
Round of 16
Jan. 27 — 30
16
Quarterfinals
Feb. 2 — 3
8
Semifinals
Feb. 7
4
3rd Place Match
Feb. 10
2
Final
Feb. 11
2
Manchester United at-risk fixtures during AFCON
These fixtures are confirmed for Manchester United during the period which the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will be held.
Date
Competition
Match
Jan. 14, 2024
Premier League
vs. Tottenham
Jan. 30, 2024
Premier League
at Wolves
Feb. 3, 2024
Premier League
vs. West Ham
Feb. 10, 2024
Premier League
at Aston Villa
Other potential fixtures for Man United during AFCON
These fixtures could potentially be added to Manchester United’s schedule during or near the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations should they progress deep enough into the respective competition to qualify.
Date
Competition
Stage
Jan. 8, 2024
FA Cup
3rd Round vs. Wigan Athletic
Jan. 8/22, 2024
EFL Cup
Semifinal
Jan. 27, 2024
FA Cup
4th Round
Man United players at AFCON 2023
The following Manchester United players will be absent during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which runs from mid-January 2024 through mid-February.
Andre Onana — GK, Cameroon
Manchester United will be without starting goalkeeper during the AFCON tournament, in a major blow for Erik ten Hag.
Onana is the starting goalkeeper for Cameroon, who are in a tough Group C alongside Senegal, Guinea, and Gambia. With Senegal present, there is little room for error if the Indomitable Lions wish to make the knockout stage.
The 27-year-old could be back with United soon if Cameroon falter in the group stage, but the squad is strong enough that they could certainly compete well into the knockout stage for a game or two.
Sofyan Amrabat — CM, Morocco
Signed from Fiorentina on loan to help with a selection crisis in midfield, Sofyan Amrabat has played a rotating role at Manchester United this season with players like Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Kobbie Mainoo missing periods through injury.
The 27-year-old is also a mainstay for Morocco, and is likely to play a big part in Group F as the Atlas Lions were drawn alongside Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Tanzania.
GES Sportfoto/Getty Images
As one of the strongest recent performers in the African confederation, Morocco will be a solid bet to push deep into the competition, and anything less than at least a quarterfinal appearance would be a disappointment. That would likely leave Amrabat unavailable through at least the start of February.
Amad Diallo — FWD, Ivory Coast
United youngster, Amad Diallo, will also head off Africa Cup of Nations duty, after being called up by the Ivory Coast.
Amad suffered a knee injury in preseason which ruled him out for significant time. The 21-year-old winger showed real promise last season at Sunderland on loan, and was having a bright preseason before going down injured.
Despite playing a limited role at United on his return, with just 36 minutes of first team action, he will join up with Jean-Louis Gasset’s team.
Hannibal Mejbri was included in Tunisia’s provisional squad but later requested to be left out.
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