The upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) poses significant challenges for both Manchester City and Manchester United, as key players prepare to represent their countries. The tournament is set to take place from December 21, 2024, to January 18, 2025, and both clubs will face the prospect of missing crucial squad members during a busy period of the Premier League season.
Ruben Amorim, manager of Manchester United, is particularly affected, losing players such as Bryan Mbeumo and Amad, who will join the national teams of Cameroon and Ivory Coast, respectively. Additionally, Noussair Mazraoui will represent the tournament hosts, Morocco. Manchester City will also be impacted, with Omar Marmoush playing for Egypt and Rayan Ait-Nouri set to feature for Algeria.
With a demanding winter schedule ahead, both clubs will need to navigate six rounds of Premier League matches during this month-long absence. This spans a particularly intense three-week period from December 20 to January 8, during which clubs will play five fixtures. The impact of these absences will be felt acutely, especially given the competitive nature of the league.
Morocco, as the tournament hosts, enters the competition as a strong contender, having reached the semi-finals in the previous two AFCON tournaments. The team is heavily favored to win its first AFCON title since 1976. They are expected to top Group A, which also includes Zambia, Mali, and Comoros. Meanwhile, Egypt, a seven-time champion, faces a challenging group with South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe in Group B.
The tournament’s structure includes a group stage running from December 21 to December 31, followed by the knockout rounds: the Round of 16 from January 3 to January 6, quarter-finals on January 9 and January 10, semi-finals on January 14, a third-place play-off on January 17, and the final on January 18. Players advancing deep into the tournament could be absent from their clubs for several weeks, impacting team performance and strategy.
As both Manchester clubs prepare for this disruption, the stakes are high. Aston Villa, for example, faces a challenging lineup of matches against Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Crystal Palace during the crucial AFCON period. Similarly, Brighton has a demanding schedule with fixtures against Sunderland, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Bournemouth.
The absence of key players during this critical time not only affects the teams’ immediate performance but also their long-term ambitions. With the Premier League title race heating up, both clubs will need to adapt quickly to maintain their competitive edge in the league while supporting their players on the international stage.
