Big players set to miss the Africa Cup 2023

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Brentford - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - December 6, 2023 Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo reacts after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Ian Walton NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 45 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS./File Photo
Source: X06613

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 will be missing some of the continent's biggest stars, as injuries and fitness issues have ruled out several key players.

Some Key players were notably excluded from their nation's squad list due to stiff competition for spots, managerial and other reasons.

Here are some of the notable absentees from the tournament.

Thomas Partey- Ghana

Thomas Partey- Ghana Black Stars
Thomas Partey (middle) on national team duty for the Black Stars of Ghana
Source: https://twitter.com/GhanaBlackstars/status/1573740395485429760/photo/1

The Black Stars midfielder has been struggling with fitness this season and was not included in Ghana's final squad. Partey has been out of action for English side Arsenal since October. He was part of the Black Stars team that reached the semi-finals of the competition in 2017.

Wilfred Zaha- Ivory Coast

FILE PHOTO: Africa Cup of Nations - Group E - Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Group E - Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone - Stade de Japoma, Douala, Cameroon - January 16, 2022 Ivory Coast's Wilfried Zaha REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo
Source: X90151

The Ivorian winger will not feature for the host nation, as he was left out of the Elephants' squad. Zaha also plays for Turkish side Galatasaray in the Turkish Süper Lig.

Victor Boniface- Nigeria

FILE PHOTO: DFB Cup - Round of 16 - Bayer Leverkusen v SC Paderborn
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Round of 16 - Bayer Leverkusen v SC Paderborn - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - December 6, 2023 Bayer Leverkusen's Victor Boniface celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay DFB REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO./File Photo
Source: X00227

The striker will miss the AFCON after suffering an injury while preparing for the tournament with Nigeria. The Super Eagles will be hoping Victor Osimhen’s goals are enough to win them this year’s trophy. Boniface is the top scorer for German league leaders Bayern Leverkusen in the Bundesliga netting 10 goals in 16 league games in the German top flight this season.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting- Cameroon

Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
Soccer Football - Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v TSG 1899 Hoffenheim - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - January 12, 2024 Bayern Munich's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting in action with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's Umut Tohumcu and Florian Grillitsch REUTERS/Leonhard Simon DFL REGULATIONS PROHIBIT ANY USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AS IMAGE SEQUENCES AND/OR QUASI-VIDEO.
Source: X07778

The footballer who also plays for German giants Bayern Munich as a forward was not selected for Cameroon's squad, despite being part of the Indomitable Lions team that finished third at the 2021 AFCON on home soil.

Wilfred Ndidi- Nigeria

Wilfred Ndidi- Leicester City
Wilfred Ndidi after a match for English side Leicester City
Source: https://twitter.com/LCFC/status/1712814273309954338/photo/2

The midfielder for English side Leicester City was initially named in Nigeria's squad, but had to withdraw due to a muscle injury he sustained on December 29.

Bryan Mbeumo- Cameroon

Byan Mbuemo- Brentford FC
Byan Mbuemo in action for English Premier League side Brentford FC
Source: https://twitter.com/BrentfordFC/status/1452706243848642568/photo/1

The Brentford forward will not be able to represent Cameroon at the AFCON, as he underwent surgery for an injury he picked up recently. Mbeumo has seven goals and three assists for Brentford in the English Premier League this season.

Baba Rahman- Ghana

Baba Rahman- Ghana Black Stars
Baba Rahman in a match for the Ghana Black Stars
Source: https://twitter.com/GhanaBlackstars/status/1675525747132231681/photo/1

The Ghanaian footballer who has been ever-present on the left flank for the Black Stars of Ghana will miss the competition due to an injury.

Taiwo Awoniyi- Nigeria

Taiwo Awoniyi- Super Eagles of Nigeria
Taiwo Awoniyi representing the Super Eagles of Nigeria
Source: https://twitter.com/NGSuperEagles/status/1725516230587478462/photo/1

The Nigerian forward will also miss the competition for the Super Eagles after sustaining an injury. Awoniyi had been in fine form for his English Premier League side Nottingham Forest.

Cheick Doucoure- Mali

Cheick Doucouré- Crystal Palace

The Malian sustained an injury while playing for his club side Crystal Palace in the English top flight in November which ruled him out of the competition for the Eagles of Mali.

Tariq Lamptey- Ghana

Tariq Lamptey- Ghana Black Stars
Tariq Lamptey on national team duty for the Ghana Black Stars
Source: https://twitter.com/GhanaBlackstars/status/1708014016243569056/photo/1

Lamptey limped off in a match for Brighton and Hove Albion against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League in November. The diminutive Ghanaian was later confirmed to have sustained an injury that ruled him out of the competition for the Black Stars.

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