The 2017 African Cup of Nations – Who’s Playing and Who’s Staying

The 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) runs from 14 January through 5 February and looks set to deprive Fantasy managers of some key Premier League players from Gameweeks 21 to 24.

This article aims to provide a ready guide on the players who are going and those from the sides participating who will not be taking part.

My references have been African sports reports as well as UK media sources.

Players Taking Part in AFCON

Arsenal
Mohamed Elneny (Egypt)

Bournemouth
Max Gradel (Ivory Coast)

Crystal Palace
Bakary Sako (Mali)
Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast)

Everton
Idrissa Gueye (Senegal)
Oumar Niasse (Senegal)

Hull City
Ahmed Elmohamady (Egypt)
Dieumerci Mbokani (DR Congo)

Leicester City
Daniel Amartey (Ghana)
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
Jeffrey Schlupp (Ghana)
Islam Slimani (Algeria)

Liverpool
Sadio Mané (Senegal)

Manchester United
Eric Bailly (Ivory Coast)

Southampton
Sofiane Boufal (Morocco)

Stoke
Wilfried Bony (Ivory Coast)
Mame Biram Diouf (Senegal)
Ramadan Sobhi (Egypt)

Sunderland
Papy Djilobodji
Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia)
Lamine Koné (Ivory Coast)
Didier Ndong (Gabon)

Watford
Nordin Amrabat (Morocco)
Adlène Guedioura (Algeria)

West Ham
Andre Ayew (Ghana)
Sofiane Feghouli (Algeria)
Cheikhou Kouyaté (Senegal)

INJURED, NOT TRAVELLING

Crystal Palace
Papé Souare (Senegal)

Everton
Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo)

West Ham
Diafra Sakho (Senegal)

WITHDRAWN, NOT TRAVELLING

Bournemouth
Benik Afobe (DR Congo)

Liverpool
Joel Matip (Cameroon)

West Brom 
Allan Nyom (Cameroon)

4 January update: Matip and Nyom have not been selected for the final Cameroon squad. 

NOT CAPPED

Everton
Arouna Koné (Ivory Coast)

Watford
Abdoulaye Doucouré (Mali)

Additional Notes

Some players listed above are eligible for AFCON through parentage, rather than birth nation. Reported official squad lists were used where available.  In addition I have not included every player from the very bottom of the Fantasy Premier League points tables, nor every player who is potentially eligible for this year’s contest but not likely to take part.

Sources: soka25east.com, Kwesé Sports, The Nigeria Vanguard, The Guardian, BBC